András Várhelyi

Research

Teaching

PhD Supervision (Annika Larsson, David Lindelöw, Höskuldur Gudjonsson, Omar Bagdadi)

Road Traffic Safety, International program for professionals from developing countries

Urban Traffic and Road Project, Graduate Course in Civil Engineering.

Membership

• Member of the Editorial board for The Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering

• Member of the Editorial board for The Open Transportation Journal

• Member of the board of the Swedish ITS postgraduate school

Courses

• Traffic Safety Science, Graduate Course in Civil Engineering. More info
• Urban Traffic and Road Project, Graduate Course in Civil Engineering. More info
• Road Traffic Safety, International programme for professionals from developing countries. More info

Ongoing projects

Within the HASTA framework project (”Hållbar Attraktiv Stad” - Sustainable Attractive City), research is being conducted on the qualities and problems of urban traffic. The work takes its point of departure in ecological, economical and social sustainability. Presently, three subprojects projects are going on within HASTA:

• Development of sustainability indicators
• Strategies for increased and safer walking and cycling
• Speed adaptation in built-up areas

The European project interactIVe addresses the development and evaluation of next-generation safety systems for Vehicles, based on active intervention. By building upon current state-of-the-art technologies, interactIVe develops next-generation safety systems based on continuous driver support, collision avoidance, and collision mitigation. The expected result is an optimal use of resources, lower implementation costs, and a broader acceptance of the technology. The core activities of the project address the design and development of the Intelligent Vehicle Systems, whose capabilities will be shown in demonstrator vehicles. The project is conducted through a coordinated effort from leading automotive industries, suppliers, and research institutes. We participate in the activities aiming at evaluation the effects on driver behaviour and traffic safety.

Development and validation of a measuring instrument for in-vehicle registering of safety critical events by detecting ”jerk”. When evaluating the safety effects of ADAS, only substitute to accidents can be used, since, for natural reasons, waiting for accidents to occur is not an alternative. The best substitutes to accidents are near-accidents, i.e. traffic conflicts with a documented relationship with accidents. The method is based on the relationship between “jerk” (a sudden change in acceleration) and a traffic conflict. A measuring instrument for registering traffic conflicts in “ordinary” vehicles will allow collection of a large number of conflicts during driving and thereby provide a powerful tool in evaluating the safety effects of various ADAS systems.

Previous work

Within the framework of the SASPENCE subproject to PReVENT EU integrated project, a Driver Assistance System with a “Safe Speed and Safe Distance” function is developed. The system advises the driver proper speed and car following distance for the given condition to prevent dangerous situations. The system warns the driver when: 1) the car is too close to the vehicle ahead, 2) the speed is too high considering the road layout, 3) the speed limit is exceeded. Our involvement is within the activities of HMI design and test of driver reactions to and acceptance of the system when driving in real traffic.

Within the framework of the European project PROSPER (Project for Research On Speed adaptation Policies on European Roads) field experiments with ISA (Intelligent Speed Adaptation) in Hungary and Spain were carried out during 2003-2005. Twenty vehicles in each city were equipped with two kinds of ISA systems: 1) warning via an active accelerator pedal, which exerts a counterforce at speeds over the speed limit and 2) warning via beep signals and flashing red light when exceeding the speed limit. The aim of these field trials was to make a comparative analysis of the effects of the two ISA systems and to reveal possible regional differences in driver reactions to and acceptance of such systems.

Co-ordinated the evaluation of the long term- and large scale effects of active accelerator pedal in 290 vehicles in Lund with regard to speed, traffic safety, driver behaviour, travel time, emissions and acceptance during 1999-2001. The results showed that compliance with the speed limits improved among test drivers both according to their own statements and the objective measurements. The reductions in average speeds, and in speed distribution, better car following behaviour, increased attention and better behaviour towards pedestrians indicate a great traffic-safety potential. Fuel consumption and emissions decreased significantly. Travel times were unaffected. The majority of the interviewed test drivers think that there is a need for speed control measures and society must undertake such measures. The test drivers think that the active accelerator pedal is an efficient means to improve road safety and experience it as a support in car driving. However, those who need it most are the most negatively inclined to the idea.

Co-ordinated work within an area in the EU-financed project MASTER (MAnaging Speeds of Traffic on European Roads) during 1997-1999. The project aimed at producing information that can be cited in the preparation of national and EU decisions concerning speed management and standards for speed control equipment.

Publications

Adell, E., Várhelyi, A., Dalla Fontana, M., D'alessandro, M. (2010) The effects of a driver assistance system for safe speed and safe distance - a real life field study. Transportation Research Part C. 19, pp 145-155.

Adell, E., Várhelyi, A., Dalla Fontana, M., Bruel, L. (2008) Test of HMI alternatives for driver support to keep safe speed and safe distance - a simulator study. The Open Transportation Journal,2, pp 53-64.

Adell, E., Várhelyi, A., Alonso, M., Plaza, J. (2008) Developing HMI components for a driver assistance system for safe speed and safe distance. IET Intelligent Transport Systems. Vol. 2, No. 1, pp 1–14.

Adell, E., Várhelyi, A., Hjälmdahl, M. (2008) The acceptance of and experiences with auditory and haptic systems for in-car speed management – a comparative real life study. Transportation Research Part F.

Adell, E., Várhelyi, A., Alonso, M., Plaza, J. (2008) Developing HMI components for a driver assistance system for safe speed and safe distance. IET Intelligent Transport Systems.

Adell, E., Várhelyi, A. (2007) Driver comprehension and acceptance of the active
accelerator pedal after long-term use. Transportation Research Part F.

Várhelyi, A., Hjälmdahl, M., Hydén, C., Draskóczy, M. (2004) Effects of an active accelerator pedal on driver behaviour and traffic safety after long-term use in urban areas. Accident Analysis and Prevention 36 (2004) 729737.

Hjälmdahl, M. and Várhelyi, A. (2004) Validation of in-car observations, a method for driver assessment, Transportation Research Part A (2004) 127-142.

Hjälmdahl, M., Várhelyi, A. (2003) Speed regulation by In-car active accelerator pedal Effects on driver behaviour. Transportation Research Part F. Vol. 7, Issue 2, pp 77-94.

Várhelyi, A. (2002) Dynamic speed adaptation in adverse conditions. IATSS RESEARCH Vol.26 No.2, 2002.

Hjälmdahl, M., Almqvist, S.,Várhelyi, A. (2002) Speed Regulation by in car active Accelerator pedal effects on speed and speed distrubution. IATSS RESEARCH Vol.26 No.2, 2002.

Várhelyi, A. (2002) Speed management via in-car devices: effects, implications, perspectives. Transportation 29:237-252, 2002.

Várhelyi, A. (2001) The effects of small roundabouts on emissions and fuel consumption: a case study. Transportation research, Part D: Transport and Environment. 2001 Vol. 7, No. 1, pp 39-45.

Várhelyi, A., Mäkinen, T. (2001) The effects of in-car speed limiters - Field studies. Transportation Research, Part C: Emerging Technologies 2001. No. 9, pp 191-211.

Hydén, C., Várhelyi, A. (2000) The effects on safety, time consumption and environment of large scale use of roundabouts in an urban area: a case study. Accident Analysis and Prevention. Vol. 32, No. 1, pp 11-23.

Várhelyi, A. (1998) Drivers' speed behaviour at a Zebra Crossing: a case study. Accident Analysis and Prevention. Vol. 30, No. 6, pp 731-743.

Várhelyi, A. (1996) Dynamic speed adaptation based on information technology - a theoretical background. PhD thesis, Bulletin 142. Lund University.

 

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