To Örebro University

During the past decades, various smart functions have been introduced into vehicles - passenger cars, trucks, and buses. One group of systems encompasses, for example, blind spot detection, lane departure warnings, and adaptive cruise control. Other types of systems include navigation support and eco-driving support. The primary motives behind the implementation of these and similar systems have been to increase traffic safety, improve efficiency, enhance convenience, and promote an overall smarter utilisation of vehicles and roads.

Conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the systems have been based on an abundance of driving simulator studies, studies on test tracks, and limited trials in real traffic. However, more extensive trials are necessary to understand more in-depth the impact of different functions and systems and how the systems are used by ordinary people in real traffic and over a more extended period. Several such field studies – or field operational tests (FOTs) – have been conducted over the years in, for example, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the USA, as well as in Europe, with the large European FOTs conducted between 2012 and 2015.

In an overview of some of these European FOTs, their respective methodologies and outcomes, the authors raised the question: Are FOTs the ultimate answer to impact assessment? [1]. We believe that the question is still valid. While FOTs offer significant potential for studying the impact of different ITS solutions, conducting large-scale studies of this nature requires substantial resources and significant efforts related to project management and coordination, as well as data collection and analysis. Are FOTs and the associated experimental approach (still) the answer to studying drivers, their driving behaviour, their usage of different functions, and the impact of these functions? Is it also the answer to assessing the impact of future ITS including more advanced automated functions, automated driving and cooperative and connected systems?