Analysis of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems in Police Vehicles

Abstract

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for police officers. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have the potential to improve officer safety by removing some of the driver’s vehicle control responsibilities. This project included two phases: (1) an ADAS needs and implementation analysis in police vehicles; and (2) an evaluation of police ADAS in a driving simulation study. The first phase included a systematic review of literature and an online survey with officers to understand their ADAS needs and current systems in police vehicles. The second phase evaluated ADAS in high-demand situations using a high-fidelity driving simulator. Results indicated that officer behaviors and opinions on ADAS features were influenced by the trust officers had in the available ADAS, as well as other key factors such as ADAS training and perceived usefulness. ADAS features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring had a positive effect on police officers' driving performance and in reducing workload. The outcomes of this project provide guidelines regarding effective ADAS features/types to automotive companies supplying police vehicles and can improve officer safety in police operations.