The Research Program on road safety proposed for the 1993 to 1998 period aim to combine the most appropriate approaches under the following aspects:
VSR Program has been allowed by the European Commission on June 2, 1993 for a total amount of research reaching 695 millions of FF. At the present time, we are near ofthe program midway and this paper gives a first range of Conclusions.
A first step of 235 millions of Francs has already been engaged and 175 more are on the way corresponding to more than 50 % of the research.
Involving driver, vehicle and road system, VSR is organized round four main axis:
On the first item, INRETS, PEUGEOT and RENAULT have set up 4 teams of accidentologists Working on one’s ground simultaneously with police and rescue. Moreover, police and medical reports of 9 000 fatalities have been analyzed and a first evaluation of primary safety counter measures effectiveness has been esïablished.
In the frame of the Second approach, a Method by Gradual Experiment - said MAP : Méthode par Apprentissage Progressif >> has been developed. It can detect changes in driver behavior due to drowsiness. Other changes in behavior can also be detected as those caused by:
Car fittings industry has initiated 10W cost Component development, for mass production, able to be used in driving assistance operations (Le. radar for AÍCC).
For occupant protection, detailed studies of material laws and breaking mechanisms have led to improved performances in computer modeling. In some cases, improvements over 40 % are obtained for frontal and side impact
Research concerning trucks and buses and analysis of road safety sociological and economical aspects are also integrated in VSR