Virtual Barriers for Mitigating and Preventing Run-Off Road Crashes - Phase III

This is the third and final year of the MATC Smart Barrier Project. Years 1 and 2 provided a literature review of existing connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) sensors and operations, as well as infrastructure needed to communicate with a vehicle. A plan was proposed during Year 2 to construct a wireless communication system which would provide road data to a vehicle in transit and provide high-precision updates for vehicle positions.

This is the third and final year of the MATC Smart Barrier Project. Years 1 and 2 provided a literature review of existing connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) sensors and operations, as well as infrastructure needed to communicate with a vehicle. A plan was proposed during Year 2 to construct a wireless communication system which would provide road data to a vehicle in transit and provide high-precision updates for vehicle positions.

Each year, more than 30,000 people die in automobile crashes, and more than half of those fatal crashes are related to run-off-road (ROR) events. Of those, approximately 10,000 fatal crashes and more than 25,000 serious-injury crashes are related to fixed-object impacts on the roadsides. By preventing ROR crashes, thousands of lives will be saved and thousands more injuries prevented, as well as preventing billions of dollars in EMS and public safety response, productivity loss, and tax loss. Other techniques which have been proposed and tested for autonomous vehicle operations are not conducive for use in rural areas or in adverse weather conditions. The proposed system can be viable on all roadway types and weather conditions as the data exchanged is not strongly-affected by environmental circumstances.

Download the Final Report