Method for Detecting Operation Mistakes with Accelerator Pedal

Suzuki, Tomokazu · 2018 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.20485/jsaeijae.9.1_16

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Summary

This paper addresses the persistent safety issue of unintended acceleration accidents caused by drivers mistakenly pressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake. While the total number of such accidents in Japan is decreasing, their proportion relative to all accidents is rising, particularly among elderly drivers. The author notes that existing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), have limited effectiveness. AEB systems often interpret firm pedal pressure as an intentional acceleration command, thereby releasing the brake even when an obstacle is detected. Furthermore, AEB is constrained by speed limits and obstacle recognition capabilities, making it effective in fewer than 50% of all pedal mistake accidents and only 20% of fatal ones. To identify a more reliable detection method, the study analyzed driver behavior through multiple approaches. First, an investigation of user complaint databases and internet posts revealed that drivers involved in accidents often believed their brakes had failed and consequently pressed the pedal harder. Second, driving simulator experiments with 20 citizen drivers demonstrated that when drivers perceived a loss of braking capability, they applied force near their physical limits, distinct from normal acceleration patterns. Third, pedal force measurements were conducted on 1,016 drivers across Japan and Indonesia to establish baseline data for normal versus mistaken operations. The results showed that pedal force during a mistake—where the driver intends to brake but presses the accelerator—significantly exceeds the force applied during normal acceleration, even aggressive acceleration on a test track. Based on these findings, the paper proposes a detection method using a simple mechanical device, comprising a steel spring and switch, installed on the accelerator pedal. This device outputs a signal when pedal force exceeds a specific threshold (e.g., 200 N). The study estimates that this method could prevent or mitigate damage in 70% to 80% of pedal operation mistake accidents, as the excessive force typically develops within 0.5 to 1 second of the mistake. The remaining 20% of accidents occur too quickly for detection. The author argues that secondary risks, such as false detection, can be minimized through appropriate control strategies, including advance warnings, gradual acceleration restriction, and driver-adjustable thresholds. The significance of this research lies in offering a practical, low-cost solution to a problem that current electronic systems struggle to address fully. By leveraging the distinct physical characteristic of pedal force during a mistake, this method provides a robust means of detecting unintended acceleration. The paper concludes that integrating this pedal force detection into vehicle control systems could significantly enhance safety for all drivers, particularly the elderly, and suggests that such functions should be standard equipment rather than optional features.

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Topics

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• pedal misapplication