Benefits

Transit Operations

IntelliDriveSM applications have the potential to help transit agencies increase safety, build ridership and improve customer service.

Vehicle Safety Technologies

Some of the many potential future IntelliDriveSM safety applications for use in transit vehicles include:

  • Driver Condition Monitoring - An on-board system that would monitor driver fatigue, and sound an alarm if the driver shows signs of drifting off to sleep.
  • Collision Avoidance - Drivers approaching a slowed or stopped object too rapidly, or following a vehicle too closely, would receive an audio and visual warning. When a vehicle traveling ahead suddenly decelerates, an alert would notify the driver of the deceleration. The system would also warn drivers of impending side or rear-impact collisions.
  • Curve Speed Warning - If the vehicle's speed is higher than recommended for the curve, the system would warns the driver to slow down.
  • Trucker Advisory System - Drivers would be warned when they were approaching a geographic location that has a high frequency of commercial vehicle crashes.

Transit System Operations Management

IntelliDriveSM systems will be designed to provide transit system operators with comprehensive data about the real-time status of the vehicles in their fleets, providing information such as location, number of passengers, mechanical condition, speed, fuel, weather, traffic, and road conditions. This real-time data would enable system operators to manage the fleet for maximum efficiency, resulting in cost-savings for the transit system and improved safety and service for users.

Travel Information Technologies

IntelliDriveSM promises to transform real-time travel information delivery. Transit users stand to be major beneficiaries of IntelliDriveSM travel information services, which have the potential to significantly increase the predictability of estimating transit trip times.

Networked Traveler systems, to be field tested in California in 2009, delivers information directly to users in practical and personalized formats, via cell phone, desktop, laptop, handheld computers and mobile Internet devices. Users personally customize the types of information they want to receive. Features of particular interest to transit users include:

  • Route Choice - Enables users to choose the most eco-friendly, or the fastest route and mode.
  • Traffic - Enables users to avoid areas of high traffic congestion by taking alternate routes, alternate modes, or adjusting trip schedule.
  • Travel Times - Provides estimates of point-to-point travel times based on real-time conditions.
  • Personal Notification - Provides personal notification of bus stop or bus transfer point.

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