Vehicles Equipped With On-Board Technology Increase Driver Awareness and Safety

A University of Florida Transportation Institute (UFTI) study funded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) found that advanced communication technologies and vehicle on-board units (OBUs) are effective in increasing driver awareness. These technologies provide information to drivers regarding their surroundings, such as the presence of pedestrians and traffic signal information. The study was supported by the City of Gainesville, Fla., with equipment supplied by Brandmotion LLC and Yunex Traffic (formerly Siemens ITS), and it is part of the research conducted by the I-STREET living lab.

The research team installed a total of 71 OBUs on vehicles belonging to the City of Gainesville, FDOT, and the University of Florida (UF). The project deployed and tested connected vehicle technologies and related applications along the four roadways surrounding UF’s main campus. Drivers of vehicles associated with the UF fleet reported using the OBU features daily, mostly within the campus. They reported that they received messages from roadside units approximately 90 percent of the time.

Drivers also reported that the use of OBUs is beneficial because it increases awareness of their surroundings. For example, one user said pedestrian warnings on the app made them actively look around and watch for walkers. Drivers found the signal timing messages useful and suggested that, in addition to the existing locations around the campus, it would be beneficial if OBUs were functional at more locations. Drivers suggested that combining auditory and visual warnings would be better than visual warnings alone and that OBU applications and navigation functionalities should be integrated into one system.

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