Intelligent road restraint systems
Increased mobility is an indicator of a better quality of life, but it can come at a cost when lives are lost on the road. Motorcyclists and cyclists are particularly vulnerable to injury, especially when accidents involve roadside barriers. Significant European funding is being directed towards improving these so-called road restraint systems (RRS). The Smart RRS project looked at how technology can be employed to increase road safety. The first step involved analysing data from accidents involving RRS, examining what body parts are most often affected, the role that speed and angle of impact play, and so on. This was complemented by an investigation of the current standards governing RRS as well as the latest advances in motorist safety technologies. Armed with this knowledge, the Smart RRS participants have begun designing and constructing different prototypes. Computer-based models are helping identify which materials and profiles deliver the best performance. Primary and tertiary sensors are also being developed that will, in addition to other functions, alert emergency services to the exact location of accidents in order to reduce response time. Care is being taken to ensure that the Smart RRS can be easily integrated into existing road infrastructure, that production and maintenance costs are minimised and, above all, that the system is robust and reliable. Its ability to better safeguard road users will be evaluated through on-road tests.
