Center for Vehicle-Infrastructure Safety

About CVIS

The Center for Vehicle-Infrastructure Safety specializes in research dealing with safety issues involving vehicle-infrastructure cooperative safety systems, intersection collision avoidance, roadway delineation, and roadway and vehicle lighting. The goal of the Center is to conduct research and development efforts that advance knowledge and provide solutions to real-world situations.

The Center is comprised of two research groups:

The Cooperative Safety Systems (CSS) group investigates the algorithms, warning methods, and driver behavior associated with cooperative safety systems at traffic signal and stop-controlled intersections.

The Lighting and Infrastructure Technology (LIT) group investigates the driver-related effects of advanced roadway lighting, delineation, signage, and vehicle lighting systems, as well as road-user safety during adverse weather conditions. In 2006 the LIT group began work on the Lighting and Infrastructure Technology Affiliates Program (LITAP). For more information.

Current Work

Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance System to Prevent Violations (CICAS-V)

Over 2.7 million crashes occur at intersections each year, resulting in more than 9,000 deaths. In particular, red-light and stop-sign violations are responsible for $39 billion in economic losses. The envisioned CICAS-V system being researched in this $25 million project, will prevent crashes between vehicles due to violations of traffic signals and stop signs by providing a warning to violating drivers.

Previous Work

Intersection Decision Support (IDS)

This study, funded by FHWA and VTRC, developed and evaluated countermeasures to address intersection collisions. Specifically, the project tested countermeasures to help prevent straight-crossing-path crashes that arise from signal and stop-sign violations. These countermeasures were primarily infrastructure-based, although cooperative support for systems with in-vehicle warnings was also provided.

Intersection Collision Avoidance - Violation (ICAV)

This study targeted intersection crashes caused by stop-sign and traffic-signal violations. The ICAV system used an in-vehicle interface to alert the inattentive or distracted driver to an imminent stop sign or signal violation.