Safety, Operational, and Energy Impacts of In-Vehicle Adaptive Stop Displays Using Connected Vehicle Technology

Driving through an un-signalized intersection creates multiple opportunities for missed or misunderstood information. Stop signs, in particular, can be stolen, covered by vegetation, or rotated out of place, leading to an absence of information, contributing to inappropriate decision-making and crashes. Stop controlled intersections have also been shown to be a source of unnecessary delay and emissions due to their frequent, often inappropriate use. Using connected vehicle technology, it is possible to place an electronic stop sign within the vehicle that tells the driver to stop when a conflict in the intersection is imminent, thus reducing the probability of missed information by the driver, and decreasing the amount of unnecessary delay, fuel consumption, and emissions. Before implementing any new technology, it is important to assess it from both a transportation engineering and human factors standpoint to assess the value of the system.

The objective of this study was to assess several key benefits of an adaptive in-vehicle stop display as well as to determine if there are any negative safety implications with the use of this system. This assessment was accomplished through a test track experiment where participants experienced conditions where a standard R1-1 stop sign was displayed on the in-vehicle display, as well as an experimental sign, which informed them to proceed through the intersection with caution. Data collected from in-vehicle sensors was analyzed, and results indicate that the implementation of this technology reduces delay, decreases fuel consumption, and does not instigate any safety decrements.