This process slowly adds to the complexities faced by first responders who must interact with all types of vehicles in the performance of their duties. When a motor vehicle crash occurs, first responders bravely jump into action, extricating vehicle occupants, administering lifesaving first aid, directing traffic, investigating the cause, clearing the scene and much more. But the police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and public safety responders that crash victims rely on face new and unique hazards as more vehicles take to U.S. roads that have vehicle automation and driver assistance features.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) released a new report that examines how law enforcement officials and other first responders as well as crash scene investigators can better prepare for automated vehicle technology by highlighting curriculum recommendations to improve training on rapidly changing safety protocols. The report – Law Enforcement, First Responder and Crash Investigation Preparation for Automated Vehicle Technology – was produced by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) and made possible by a grant from State Farm^®.

For National Teen Driver Safety Week 2018, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and State Farm collaborated on a survey aimed at learning what young people have to say about the advances in vehicle technology happening all around them. The survey asked the youth about existing advanced vehicle technology as well as fully autonomous vehicles.

Key Learnings

1. Teens appear to have an overall skepticism about fully autonomous vehicles.
   • When asked to rate their interest in driving cars that are fully autonomous, 55.6 percent rated this only a one (out of a possible five).
   • When asked whether they would feel safe riding in a car that is fully autonomous, 56.3 percent rated this just a one out of five. 
   • When asked about the future likelihood they will own or drive a car that is fully autonomous, 61.4 percent rated this a one out of five.
2. Nearly 20 percent (18.8 percent) believe their generation will be less likely to own a car than people are today.
3. The survey indicated there might be a need for more education about vehicle technologies. Those with greater understanding showed higher overall acceptance of new technology.

Survey Details

The teens were asked to rate different types of vehicle automation based on the following questions:

• How would you rate your understanding of this technology?
• How interested are you in driving cars with this technology?
• How safe do you (or would you) feel in a car with this technology?
• Now or in the future, how likely is it that you will own or drive a car with this technology?

In their own words...

For those who felt their generation would be less likely to own or drive a car with these technologies, we asked them to explain their reasons. Here is a sampling of their verbatim responses.

More likely (38.7%)

• Drivers will not want to relinquish control of their vehicle. I believe they will be receptive to assistance, but not a total loss of control.
• Regardless of price or mass transportation, everyone feels safer when somewhat in control of where they are driven.

As likely (42.4%)

• I think it would be the same. I know teens will want their own car and adults with professional jobs would not want to use these transportations. I personally would like my own car rather than use the transportations listed above.
• There are multiple advances in technology, especially transportation, which will eliminate the need for a car. I will greatly look into my personal need for a car with or without features. Future generations will not have the experience of a car that is not fully automatic so eventually the majority will have fully automatic cars.

Less likely (18.8%)

• I honestly just don't feel safe driving cars with no steering wheel, I understand that these cars are tested, but there is always chance for error.
• More companies such as Uber are taking over and are probably going to be more accepted as the normal thing to do.
• The cars of today will be a thing of the past, like a landline telephone.
• Cars with these modifications will be more expensive and public transportation would be most efficient.

The ratings...

Here are their ratings for each type of vehicle automation (one being least, five being greatest):

Fully automated vehicle with no steering wheel or brake pedal

Adaptive Cruise Control

Lane Keep Assistance

Automatic Emergency Braking

Methodology

SADD conducted an online poll during September and October 2018. Using their online membership portal, they asked students to answer questions about their thoughts and attitudes regarding automated vehicle technology. 764 high school students responded, representing SADD chapters across the country. The average age of respondent was 16.39 years.

In movies and daydreams, America in decades past was a land of open highways, stylish vehicles and a simpler life. It was an era of Route 66, drive-ins and cruising.

It was also an era when lots of people died in car crashes.

As a percentage of the U.S. population, traffic fatalities were more than twice as high in the 1960s than today. In raw numbers, 1972 was the deadliest year. That year more than 54,000 fatalities, compared with fewer than 34,000 deaths in 2012, despite having a much larger population base, occurred. And measured in deaths per million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), the current rate of 1.1. This is significantly reduced from the 7.2 rate of 1950 – and a fraction of the 1921 rate of 24.1 deaths per million VMT.

Making changes to save lives

So what’s changed, and how did it happen? Simply put, researchers pinpointed problems. Then engineers, policymakers and advocates tackled them one by one.

View Auto Safety Timeline

“It wasn’t that long ago that a lot of things we take for granted today didn’t exist,” said Anne McCartt, Senior Vice President for Research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). “Painted lines on the roads, shoulders, guardrails… By the 1960s cars had seatbelts, but people didn’t use them.”

And then there are technological improvements like airbags and child safety seats. Although required today, they were optional in the past.

In all these cases, researchers analyzed data from car crashes to figure out why injuries and deaths were happening. Then they determined what action to take to correct the source of the problem.

The power of “research to action”

A great deal of data came from insurance companies, which have unique insight into the often tragic results of crashes.

“Through our ‘research to action’ philosophy at State Farm, we focus on research to identify specific risks and evidence-supported actions we can take to achieve a positive impact,” said Chris Mullen, Director of Technology Research at State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. “If you truly want to be a good neighbor – and we do – you want to help people avoid risks whenever possible.”

To show how far we’ve come and the cumulative impact of the “research to action” philosophy, State Farm created an interactive timeline that highlights key advancements in auto safety starting in the late 1800’s.

As a founding member of IIHS, backer of research, data source and advocate, Mullen said, State Farm has played a role in many critical changes, including:

• Airbags: A leading role in the early 1980s legal battle that resulted in the requirement for airbags today. This decision had even went all the way to the Supreme Court.

• Child safety: A joint effort with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia® to research child passenger safety in the late 1990s. This led to numerous changes in car seats, usage recommendations and laws in the years since.

• Teen drivers: Research and education related to young drivers and science-based efforts to make Graduated Driver Licensing. This is a program that lets new drivers gain experience gradually.

But changes don’t need to make headlines to be significant. McCartt noted that State Farm data on whiplash cases led the IIHS to review head restraints. This in turn led auto manufacturers to redesign them.

“The whole consumer awareness effort about auto safety is huge,” said McCartt. “Auto manufacturers now make it a selling point. It’s just phenomenal how much safer we are today.”

What’s next: Automated vehicle technology, engaged driving

McCartt said the IIHS is retooling to allow research on automated safety systems, like braking assist and other collision avoidance technologies. She said the technology side is the next big wave, and it requires entirely different facilities to test it.

On the driver side of the equation, Mullen and State Farm are focusing on the Engaged Driving Initiative (EDI).

“In 2012, the Auto Technology Research staff that I lead at State Farm conducted an environmental scan to identify significant auto safety research issues needing to be addressed. Distracted driving shot to the top of the list,” said Mullen. “Today drivers are challenged with demands on their attention by multiple devices and activities that may distract them from driving. We need to determine the best ways to encourage drivers to take personal responsibility in adopting safety-conscious behaviors.”

As part of EDI, State Farm is backing researchers exploring the causes and solutions of distraction, and even how best to research it. (The researchers presented their findings at the Engaged Driving Symposium (March 31, 2014, Washington D.C.)

It’s the first step towards future safety innovations– and a critical moment for those whose lives will be saved in years to come.