Thomas D. Larson

Transcription

Narrator: Finding out what you do behind the wheel of a car... that's right now In Motion! Narrator: Much research has been done into the habits of everyday drivers. This comes about from written surveys generated from actual drivers and forensic studies that would occur after an accident. Jovanis: ...officer comes to the scene after the crash occurs, they interview witnesses that have a variety of perspectives on the crash. The driver has their own perspective or the people involved have their own perspective. So there's a variety on inaccuracies that creep into the data, but with the advent of advanced technology and the miniaturization of computers and sensing systems, we have an ability to put a lot of equipment in cars that we could never imagine doing on a large scale before. Narrator: Penn State, in association with Virginia Tech seeks to establish a truer stream information about what happens in a car while driven by an operator. Penn State along with other sites around the country will seek out volunteers that will allow their private vehicles to be outfitted with an array of sensing devices that will allow researchers to produce a clearer picture of what happens during an accident. But what also happens during everyday driving. Jovanis: So, part of the equipment we're putting on the car includes a radar in the front bumper that looks at potential collision objects in the forward field of view, a camera looking to the rear, a camera looking forward, a camera looking directly at the drivers face so we know where their eyes are directed and a camera looking down where the drivers hand are so that we are able to see what the driver's doing with their hands. Whether they're holding the steering wheel or not. Narrator: Ultimately, the Strategic Highway Research Program, or SHaRP wants to equip 240 vehicles and right now, is especially interested in enlisting younger and older drivers. Jovanis: This is really a project that's intended to save lives. To do a better job managing our highways, administering to drivers and basically we're trying to make the roadways safer for everybody. So we encourage you to do so and to look at our website and help us out if you can. Narrator: For In Motion I'm Curt Parker.