Can cyclist safety be improved with intelligent transport systems?

Area of Science:

• Road safety engineering
• Human-computer interaction
• Transportation systems analysis

Background:

• Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) have reduced road fatalities, primarily for passenger car occupants.
• Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs), including cyclists and pedestrians, remain a critical safety concern.
• There is a need for ITS solutions specifically designed to integrate and protect VRUs within the traffic environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess the safety impact of five selected ITS designed to enhance cyclist safety.
• To adapt and develop an existing ex-ante assessment method for evaluating ITS specifically for VRUs.
• To provide estimates on the potential reduction in cyclist fatalities and injuries.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative safety impact assessment using an adapted ex-ante method (Kulmala, 2010).
• Evaluation of five specific ITS: Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Bicycle to Vehicle communication (B2V), Intersection safety (INS), Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection System+Emergency Braking (PCDS+EBR), and VRU Beacon System (VBS).
• Analysis based on 2012 accident data with projections for full system penetration and future scenarios (2030).

Main Results:

• All investigated ITS demonstrated a positive impact on cyclist safety, preventing fatalities and injuries.
• PCDS+EBR and B2V were estimated to yield the highest safety benefits under full penetration scenarios.
• Estimated yearly reduction in cyclist fatalities in the EU-28 ranged from 77 to 286 per system.
• Forecast for 2030 indicated PCDS+EBR and BSD as having the most significant positive effects.

Conclusions:

• The studied ITS significantly enhance cyclist safety by reducing potential fatalities and injuries.
• Targeted ITS development is crucial for improving the safety of Vulnerable Road Users.
• PCDS+EBR and B2V represent highly effective interventions for improving cyclist safety in the short to medium term.