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The Research Center for Advanced Information Technology of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has been conducting proving tests in order to substantiate the results of research and development in Advanced Cruise-Assist Highway Systems (AHS). The tests were carried out from July 2000 to March 2001 in Tsukuba City at the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM), which has a test course (approximately 6 km in length) and also involved participation by drivers from the general public. A compilation of the results of these proving tests has recently been completed.
The findings verify that the numerous safety support services provided by the AHS are effective in actual accident prevention.
- Overview of the Proving Tests
(1) Support for Prevention of Collisions with Forward Obstacles
The results of tests conducted on a course simulating expressways and ordinary roads show that the amount of deceleration applied when stopping just before an obstacle was reduced an average of approximately 0.6 m/s2, from 3.8 m/s2 without support to 3.2 m/s2 with support. This is further evidence that the service reduces the risk of becoming involved in accidents of this kind.
(2) Support for Prevention of Over Shooting on Curve
The test of this service took place where a straight section of road led into a curve on the test course. By providing the information just before the curve that a curve lay ahead, the speed on entering the curve was reduced by an average of approximately 6 km/h, from the average of 95.6 km/h without support to 90.1 km/h with support. The number of test subjects who entered curves on the expressway at speeds above 100 km/h was also reduced, showing that the service reduces the risk of becoming involved in accidents of this kind.
(3) High Expectations for Every Service
Questionnaire surveys of test subjects showed that they considered the AHS services for prevention of crossing collisions, prevention of right turn collisions, and prevention of collisions with pedestrians crossing streets at intersections, and prevention of lane departure on one-lane roads, all to be useful. There was some variation among the services, but a high proportion of from 73% to 92% of the subjects responded in this way. The service for prevention of lane departure, in particular, was considered useful by 100% of female subjects and subjects of age 65 or over.
(4) Miscellaneous
As these tests involved coordination between the road and the vehicle, they also included joint testing of the advanced safety vehicle (ASV), and produced confirmation that many of the services were effective in gaining driver acceptance. We will conduct further tests under a wide variety of cruising conditions in the future, confirming the conditions required for practical application of each service before proceeding to evaluate the feasibility of the services.
- Progress Toward Practical Application
During fiscal 2001, we are scheduled to augment studies conducted on the test course by carrying out tests on actual roads in order to reproduce road traffic conditions. This further study is intended to lead us farther toward practical application of these systems, and plans call for eventual deployment on major trunk roads through Japan. Deployment will start with the No. 2 Tomei-Meishin Expressway, which will
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