Lane Departure Warning receives trucker approval

Nov. 1, 2004
Iteris Inc, a subsidiary of Iteris Holdings Inc, has released the results of its recently commissioned International Driver Satisfaction Study for the

Iteris Inc, a subsidiary of Iteris Holdings Inc, has released the results of its recently commissioned International Driver Satisfaction Study for the deployment of its Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system in commercial trucks.

The study, conducted over a six-month period with commercial truck drivers in both the United States and Europe, indicates that they consider Iteris's LDW system a valuable safety feature. More than 140 drivers in the United States and 100 in Europe responded to the survey.

Iteris conducted the study in an effort to gauge market receptivity as well as the effectiveness of its LDW system from drivers using the system first-hand on a regular basis. With more than 8,000 Iteris lane departure warning systems installed in commercial trucks in the United States and Europe, driver responses were positive, with many citing specific examples of how the system made them more alert and assisted in potentially dangerous situations.

Here is a brief summary of US data collected:

  • 98% believe the system can prevent accidents.

  • 92% believe the system is a valuable safety feature.

  • 71% say the system has made them safer drivers.

  • 80% normally drive with the system enabled.

  • 97% are satisfied or very satisfied with the system.

  • Here is a brief summary of European data collected:

  • 93% are satisfied or very satisfied with the system.

  • 62% recall situations where the system assisted them. This number increases with more experience driving with the system.

  • 83% drive with the system enabled regularly or in relevant situations.

  • 70% say the system warned while drowsy, distracted, not concentrating or driving in fog.

  • 83% said the warning comes at the right time providing enough notice to correct.

The LDW system uses a windshield-mounted camera that tracks the lane markings and provides “virtual” rumble strips anywhere there are lane markings.

Using image recognition software and algorithms, the system monitors the relative position of the truck, and if it unintentionally crosses the lane markings, the system automatically emits a distinctive rumble strip sound on the right or left side depending on the direction of travel, alerting the driver to make a correction. Use of the truck's turn signals automatically overrides the system.
www.iteris.com

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Mary Davis

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