Evaluation of Camera-Based Systems to Reduce Transit Bus Side Collisions

Lin, Pei-Sung; Lee, Chanyoung; Kourtellis, Achilleas; Saxena, Meeta · 2010 · ROSA P / Florida. Department of Transportation. Research Center

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Summary

This study, conducted by the Center for Urban Transportation Research for the Florida Department of Transportation, evaluates the effectiveness of camera-based systems in reducing transit bus side collisions. The research was motivated by the prevalence of side crashes, particularly sideswipe incidents during lane changes, which are frequently caused by driver blind zones inherent in traditional mirror-based systems. While mirrors are required by federal standards, they fail to cover the entire side area of the bus, are less effective in adverse weather conditions like rain or fog, and pose physical hazards due to their protrusion from the vehicle. The study aimed to compare mirror-, sensor-, and camera-based technologies, measure blind zone reductions, and assess driver performance and satisfaction through controlled testing. The methodology involved a comprehensive review of existing collision avoidance systems, volumetric measurements of blind zones on various bus types, and a controlled driving test involving 28 bus drivers. The camera-based system under evaluation consisted of external video cameras aimed at the left and right rear sides of the bus, feeding images to internal monitors. The driving test simulated real-world scenarios, including distance/depth perception tasks and lane change maneuvers, with drivers performing these tasks both with and without the sideview video system. Additionally, driver surveys were conducted before and after the tests to gather feedback on system usability, monitor placement, and perceived safety benefits. The results demonstrated significant improvements in visibility and driver performance. Volumetric measurements indicated that a camera-based system with a regular-angle lens reduced blind zones by approximately 64% compared to a flat mirror system and by 43% compared to a combined flat and convex mirror system. Using a wide-angle lens completely eliminated side blind zones. In the controlled driving tests, drivers successfully adapted to the video system, maintaining accurate distance and depth perception similar to that achieved with mirrors. Drivers were able to identify vehicles in areas previously obscured by mirror blind spots, facilitating safer lane changes. Survey results confirmed that the majority of drivers valued the system’s ability to improve visibility during lane changes, in rainy conditions, and at night, although some expressed reservations regarding system reliability due to unfamiliarity. The study concludes that sideview video systems have great potential to enhance transit bus safety by significantly reducing or eliminating side blind zones, thereby mitigating the risk of side collisions. The technology offers superior performance in adverse weather and low-light conditions compared to traditional mirrors. However, the authors note that the tested aftermarket systems were not designed to fully replace mirrors and require further enhancement for field deployment. The study recommends future research involving actual field deployments to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of these systems in real-world operating conditions.

Key finding

Camera-based sideview video systems reduced transit bus side blind zones by 64 percent compared to flat mirrors and 43 percent compared to combined flat and convex mirrors, while wide-angle lenses completely eliminated side blind zones.

Methodology

lab_experiment

Sample size: 28

Provenance

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• automated enforcement cameras