Human Factors
Westat's human factors research uses laboratory simulation, instrumented vehicles, and roadway
instrumentation to measure driver behavior and performance for a wide range of driving situations and vehicle characteristics.
- Westat has conducted a wide variety of studies related to intelligent transportation systems (ITS).
These studies for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) include the following:
- Instrumented vehicle research on the ability of drivers to use in-vehicle displays while driving,
- Research and guidelines development for in-vehicle crash avoidance warnings,
- Research on the effectiveness of advanced traveler information systems influencing driver route
choice,
- Evaluation of the risks associated with wireless communications in vehicles,
- Analysis of issues related to integrating multiple in-vehicle intelligent devices, and
- Development of detailed and comprehensive human factors guidelines for the use of ITS in applications
related to railroad-highway grade crossings.
- Westat has conducted numerous studies of high-risk driver groups for NHTSA, FHWA, and the National
Institutes of Health, including the following:
- Development and evaluation of methodologies for classifying and measuring the incidence of aggressive
driving,
- Study of roadway design features that are related to teenage driver crashes,
- Investigation of the effects of passengers and other distractions on teen driving safety,
- Examination of the safety impacts of truck drivers' use of new in-cab communications and navigation
technologies, and
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of self-regulation strategies for older drivers.
- Westat has planned and conducted a variety of expert panels, workshops, and conferences on highway safety issues
for U.S. Department of Transportation clients. Topics have included the following:
- Collision avoidance systems,
- Innovative use of technology to increase seat belt use,
- Driver distraction,
- In situ ("black box") recording of driving,
- Traveler information system requirements,
- Countermeasures to address driver maneuver errors, and
- Problems of young and inexperienced drivers.
- For NHTSA, Westat managed an Internet conference on driver distraction problems related to in-vehicle technologies,
such as cell phones and computers. This innovative forum generated extensive national publicity and collected a broad range of public,
industry, and research expert opinion.
- For the National Academy of Sciences' National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Westat examined the effectiveness
of the signs and markings used to delineate rail-highway grade crossings. The project developed improved low-cost methods
to better alert approaching drivers about crossings that are unprotected by gates or lights. For the Federal Railroad
Administration, we developed statistical models for predicting the frequency and severity of motor vehicle crashes at rail-highway grade
crossings.
- For the National Academy of Sciences' National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Westat determined traffic
signal performance requirements to accommodate normal and color-vision-deficient drivers.
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