Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADASs) are today becoming increasingly common in the market. This also applies to trucks, in particular. In order to quantify the effects of ADASs on truck accidents in Germany, a comprehensive study was performed, using third-party vehicle claims involving personal injury and a total claim value of at least €15,000. This study is based on a total of 443 truck accidents. Statistical methods were used to extrapolate these accidents up to 18,467 claims.
To determine the possible effects of ADASs, relevant accident scenarios were identified, and system characteristics for generic ADASs were derived. Different stages of development for some of the systems were defined and evaluated, and the theoretical safety potentials of the generic ADASs were determined by systematic case-by-case analysis.
All types of road users (cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians) were included as the other parties to the collisions involving the trucks (gross vehicle weight more than 5,000 kg); singlevehicle truck accidents were also included. The calculated theoretical safety potential of the different ADASs is based on the assumptions that 100% of the truck fleet is equipped with these systems and that the driver reacts perfectly when warned.
The conclusions of the analyses are as follows: an autonomous emergency braking system (AEBS), which is able to detect moving and stationary twotrack vehicles, warn the driver and perform a braking maneuver autonomously, was able to prevent up to 12% of all truck accidents in the data sample compared to just 6% for a system that is not able to detect stationary vehicles. The safety potential of a “turningassistant system” and an intelligent rear view camera accounts for 6% of prevented accidents in relation to all truck accidents. Detailed analysis reveals that this covers 55% of all truck accidents against vulnerable road users (VRUs). Compared to current rear-view mirror technology, these assistance systems are much more effective. The theoretical safety potential of a lane departure warning (LDW) system was found to be up to 2%. Nevertheless, this small percentage equates to about 39% of all truck accidents caused by departing the lane.
The results of the study indicate that ADASs do not achieve the same safety potential for each of the three truck categories “solo truck”, “truck and drawbar trailer” and “semi-trailer truck”. This should be taken into consideration for future legislation. Although some of the ADASs examined show considerable safety potential for VRUs, the current European legislation does not take this into account.