Vehicle to vehicle communication how to prepare drivers for dangerous situations

Situations where drivers pass a bus stopped to load or unload passengers near the road are known to be hazardous, as the number of fatalities each year confirm. ITS based on vehicle to vehicle communication have the potential to improve traffic safety in such situations as drivers are warned in advance for the danger lying ahead and therefore have time to prepare and react. A driving simulator study was conducted to evaluate drivers' reaction in a bus passing situation where they received a warning in advance. The results were very promising: speed when passing the bus was reduced significantly, and drivers prepared for possible emergency maneuvers well in advance. The study suggests that adoption of ITS systems to warn drivers could lead to decreased number of accidents in bus-passing situations.