TABLE OF CONTENTS Intersection collisions are disproportionately severe due to the crossing-path nature of the event passengers have less metal between them and the point of (side) impact. The causes of these crashes relate primarily to driver behavior and inattention. In a hurry-up society, the temptation to move on through that intersection as the traffic signal is changing from yellow to red can overwhelm otherwise law-abiding drivers. In these situations, red light running cameras which automatically detect violations and issue traffic citations have been quite effective. For instance, at 9 of 125 intersections in Oxnard, California, such systems were installed, resulting in a 29% decrease in injury crashes city-wide (due to a carry-over effect even for unequipped intersections) [33].
So, actions relating to conscious choices made by drivers can be modulated based on enforcement. However, when drivers are unaware that they are about to commit a violation, or when they are unaware that another driver is disregarding a traffic signal or stop sign and putting them in harm s way, that is when ICA systems can potentially save the day.
While it is possible to develop ICA systems residing only on the vehicle, there will inevitably be times in which sensor views are obscured by foliage or buildings. Therefore, a cooperative systems approach is key to a comprehensive ICA system.
A good deal of work has been conducted in this area, starting with AHSRA in Japan, then later in the United States, and most recently in Europe. Very active programs are...
