Factors in Decisions to Make, Purchase, and Use On-board Safety Technologies

Abstract

In support of its goal to reduce large truck-related fatalities and crashes, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) plans to facilitate the deployment of Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI) technologies that have shown a potential to improve the safety of commercial vehicle operations (CVO) and provide safety benefits to society as a whole. The IVI is part of the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) program of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). FMCSA administers the program for commercial motor vehicles. Under the IVI program, three field operational tests (FOTs) of crash avoidance technologies are completed or underway: Volvo Test, Freightliner Test, and the Mack Test. Following the successful completion of the FOTs, FMCSA will be committed to facilitating the deployment of safety technologies for commercial motor vehicles that will improve safety. Acceptance by motor carriers and drivers will be vital to successful deployment and reduction of commercial motor vehicle fatalities and injuries. An important part of this overall project is to understand what motivates the key stakeholders when making decisions to manufacture, buy, or use on-board safety technologies. The results in this report address that part of the overall project.