Development of Crash Imminent Test Scenarios for Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety Systems (IVBSS)


Book Description

This report identifies crash imminent test scenarios based on common pre-crash scenarios for integrated vehicle-based safety systems that alert the driver of a light vehicle or a heavy truck to an impending rear-end, lane change, or run-off-road crash. Pre-crash scenarios describe vehicle movements and critical events immediately prior to the crash. The General Estimates System (GES) crash database was queried to distinguish common pre-crash scenarios for light vehicles (2003 GES) and heavy trucks (2000-2003 GES) in terms of their frequency of occurrence. Analysis of two-vehicle rear-end crashes revealed four dominant scenarios that accounted for 97 percent of light-vehicle crashes and 95 percent of heavy-truck crashes in which the subject vehicle was striking. Four scenarios were also identified from an analysis of two-vehicle lane change crashes, comprising 65 percent of light-vehicle crashes and 76 percent of heavy-truck crashes in which the subject vehicle was encroaching onto another vehicle in adjacent lanes. There were five single-vehicle, run-off-road scenarios representing 63 percent of light-vehicle crashes and 83 percent of heavy-truck crashes, excluding crashes caused by vehicle failure or evasive maneuver. An additional set of scenarios is proposed to address multiple threats from near simultaneous critical events. This report also provides a statistical description of individual scenarios in terms of their environmental factors, roadway geometry, and speed conditions.




Accidental Injury


Book Description

This book provides a state-of-the-art look at the applied biomechanics of accidental injury and prevention. The editors, Drs. Narayan Yoganandan, Alan M. Nahum and John W. Melvin are recognized international leaders and researchers in injury biomechanics, prevention and trauma medicine. They have assembled renowned researchers as authors for 29 chapters to cover individual aspects of human injury assessment and prevention. This third edition is thoroughly revised and expanded with new chapters in different fields. Topics covered address automotive, aviation, military and other environments. Field data collection; injury coding/scaling; injury epidemiology; mechanisms of injury; human tolerance to injury; simulations using experimental, complex computational models (finite element modeling) and statistical processes; anthropomorphic test device design, development and validation for crashworthiness applications in topics cited above; and current regulations are covered. Risk functions and injury criteria for various body regions are included. Adult and pediatric populations are addressed. The exhaustive list of references in many areas along with the latest developments is valuable to all those involved or intend to pursue this important topic on human injury biomechanics and prevention. The expanded edition will interest a variety of scholars and professionals including physicians, biomedical researchers in many disciplines, basic scientists, attorneys and jurists involved in accidental injury cases and governmental bodies. It is hoped that this book will foster multidisciplinary collaborations by medical and engineering researchers and academicians and practicing physicians for injury assessment and prevention and stimulate more applied research, education and training in the field of accidental-injury causation and prevention.













Operational Differences and Similarities Among the Motorcoach, School Bus, and Trucking Industries


Book Description

Ch. 1 Introduction -- Ch. 2. The motorcoach industry -- Ch. 3. The school bus contractor Industry -- Ch. 4. The trucking Industry -- Ch. 5. Industry comparisons -- Ch. 6. Data limitations -- Abbreviations used without definitions in TRB publications.




Safety and Quality in Medical Transport Systems


Book Description

The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) has been accrediting air and ground transport services since 1991. One of the most significant needs the Commission has recognized is to assist transport services in creating a culture that supports safety and quality for both crews and patients. Most of the helicopter EMS (emergency medical service) accidents and many ground ambulance accidents can be attributed to human factors and systems designs that lead to poor decision-making. Management commitment is vital to create and maintain a culture that supports risk assessment, accountability, professionalism and organizational dynamics. This reference book has been created by CAMTS to address this need directly and comprehensively. It offers a groundbreaking collection of expert insights and practical solutions that can be used by EMS, Fire and Rescue, public and private services, and professional emergency and transport professionals worldwide. Quoting from the foreword written by the late Robert L. Helmreich, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at The University of Texas Human Factors Research Project, 'This is an important book which should be required reading for everyone involved in patient transport, from managers and dispatchers to those at the sharp end... The experienced and able authors and editors of this work use culture as the overarching concept needed to maximize safety while delivering patients expeditiously.'







Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States


Book Description

Scores of talented and dedicated people serve the forensic science community, performing vitally important work. However, they are often constrained by lack of adequate resources, sound policies, and national support. It is clear that change and advancements, both systematic and scientific, are needed in a number of forensic science disciplines to ensure the reliability of work, establish enforceable standards, and promote best practices with consistent application. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward provides a detailed plan for addressing these needs and suggests the creation of a new government entity, the National Institute of Forensic Science, to establish and enforce standards within the forensic science community. The benefits of improving and regulating the forensic science disciplines are clear: assisting law enforcement officials, enhancing homeland security, and reducing the risk of wrongful conviction and exoneration. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States gives a full account of what is needed to advance the forensic science disciplines, including upgrading of systems and organizational structures, better training, widespread adoption of uniform and enforceable best practices, and mandatory certification and accreditation programs. While this book provides an essential call-to-action for congress and policy makers, it also serves as a vital tool for law enforcement agencies, criminal prosecutors and attorneys, and forensic science educators.