IVS

Field Demonstration of an Advanced Heavy Vehicle Indirect Visibility System. Camera/Video Imaging Systems (C/VISs) display video from cameras on the truck’s exterior to drivers using displays inside the truck cabin. C/VISs help drivers execute lane changes by allowing them to see objects in their blind spots. The U.S. DOT contracted the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) to investigate drivers’ performance with C/VISs in a revenue-producing environment. A Technology Field Demonstration (TFD) was performed by continuously recording 12 commercial drivers’ performance with and without a C/VIS. Half of the drivers used a commercially-available C/VIS called Sidetracker that had a side-view camera on each fender. The other drivers used a VTTI-developed Advanced-C/VIS (A-C/VIS) that had side-view cameras, a rear-view camera, and night-vision capabilities. The TFD found that when a C/VIS was provided: 1) the probability that drivers looked forward prior to a safety-critical event (SCE) did not change, 2) drivers’ involvement in SCEs did not change, 3) drivers improved their lane change precision, and 4) drivers indicated that the C/VISs, particularly the A-C/VIS, helped them become aware of surrounding objects and merge into traffic. Overall, drivers’ positive ratings and improvements in lane change performance suggest that C/VISs may be beneficial to drivers.