Forum Examines Technology's Role in Crash Prevention
"Human error continues to be the leading cause of the more than 30,000 traffic deaths every year. It is past time for mass use of these life-saving technologies in order to reach zero crashes," said NTSB Board Member Earl Weener, who will lead the Oct. 27 discussion with NSC President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman.
The National Transportation Safety Board is hosting a forum Oct. 27 along with experts from the National Safety Council and several other organizations to discuss the role of technology in eliminating highway crashes. NTSB said the "Reaching Zero Crashes: A Dialogue on the Role of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems" forum will include government officials, car manufacturers, researchers, industry associations, and safety advocates to discuss driver assistance technologies; the forum is taking place one week after the council's 2016 National Safety Congress & Expo took place in Anaheim.
These are technologies such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, and other technology-based safety enhancements that are increasing showing up in ads from motor vehicle manufacturers. The experts also will discuss how to educate and train the public on using such technologies and how human factors influence vehicle design.
NTSB issued its first safety recommendation on the use of technology to mitigate crashes in 1995 and has made many vehicle technology recommendations since then, and "Promote Availability of Collision Avoidance Technologies in Highway Vehicles" is on its Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements.
NTSB Board Member Earl Weener and NSC President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman will lead the panel. "Human error continues to be the leading cause of the more than 30,000 traffic deaths every year. It is past time for mass use of these life-saving technologies in order to reach zero crashes," said Weener. Hersman agreed, saying that "We are losing 100 people every day on our roads because we have become too complacent. Technology can be a solution to old problems if we understand how to use it safely and to its fullest potential."
Other organizations participating in the forum include the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Highway Data Loss Institute, AAA National, the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, Volvo, State Farm, NHTSA, and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and Consumer Reports.
It will be held in the NTSB Board Room and Conference Center, 429 L’Enfant Plaza SW in Washington, DC, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST and is open to the public. For more information, visit www.ntsb.gov/drivertech or email [email protected] with questions.