ASPECSS · Assessment methodologies for forward looking Integrated Pedestrian and further extension to Cyclists Safety Systems

According to the World Health Organisation Global status report on road safety 2009, pedestrians account for more than 19% of road fatalities in the EU-27. It is well known that most accidents with pedestrians are caused by the driver being in alert or misinterpretation of the situation. For that reason advanced forward looking integration safety systems have a high potential to improve safety for this group of road users. These systems combine reduction of impact speed by driver warning and/or autonomous braking with protective devices upon impact.Previous EU research projects resulted in systems which are gradually entering the market. However, such new systems have to be widely deployed in the marketplace to realise their potential benefits.The objective of the AsPeCSS project is to contribute towards improving the protection of vulnerable road users, in particular pedestrians and cyclists by developing harmonized test and assessment procedures for forward looking integrated pedestrian safety systems. The outcome of the project will be a suite of tests and assessment methods as input to future regulatory procedures and consumer rating protocols. Implementation of such procedures / protocols will enforce widespread introduction of such systems in the vehicle fleet, resulting in a significant reduction of fatalities (30% pedestrians; 20% cyclists) and seriously injured (50% pedestrians; 20% cyclists) among these vulnerable road users.Activities are in line with objectives set in the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: “Towards a European road safety area: policy orientations on road safety 2011-2020”. In this communication the Commission proposes to target of halving the overall number of road deaths in the EU by 2020 starting from 2010. To reach this goal, the Commission indicated safety of vulnerable road users to be one of the three main priorities. On a more specific level the use of modern technology, among which Pedestrian Recognition systems, should be promoted.