Potential of Cooperative Intelligent Transport System Services to Mitigate Risk Factors Associated With Emergency Vehicle Accidents

Abstract

Emergency vehicles (EVs) are at high risk of accidents during emergency driving. To make use of countermeasures to mitigate these risks, it is important to understand under what circumstances EV-related accidents occur. The common risk factors for EV-related accidents were examined through a systematic literature review. A total of 22 articles were examined for risk factors associated with EV-related accidents. The most reported risk factors were, in order of frequency, intersections, daytime, dry roads, clear weather, urban roads, traffic signals, and angular collisions. The articles were also reviewed for suggested countermeasures to mitigate the risk factors. The most commonly suggested countermeasures were driver training for EV operators, educating the public, exercising caution at intersections, wearing a seatbelt, and intelligent vehicle technologies. Cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITSs) have the potential to mitigate the risks of EV-related accidents. Therefore, three C-ITS services were investigated: EV approaching, EV preemption, and geofencing. They could all be used to inform, warn, or control aspects of driving. Each suggested service has the potential to decrease risk factors for EV-related accidents. The current literature review provides guidance on under what circumstance and in what form C-ITSs could be beneficial to prevent EV-related accidents. Further research is needed to examine behavior when drivers are introduced to C-ITSs.