The eSafety initiative aims to accelerate the development, deployment, and use of 'Intelligent vehicle safety systems' (IVSS), 'Advanced driver assistance systems' (ADAS), etc. Safety-Technopro was therefore conceived as the most efficient way to achieve maximum acceptance and awareness on new safety technologies for road transport by the end-users, provoking a progressive, but full, understanding of their potential.
The project's starting point was to carry out a complete review of available eSafety technologies and systems, allowing the project to focus on those safety technologies which would clearly respond to customer demand, and set for commercialisation within the coming five years (2011 horizon).
The next step - the core of the project - was to design a training system, which would be relevant to the targeted population (professional bodies and, ultimately, end-users).
This was achieved through three tasks:
- The project carried out a European-wide assessment of the opinions, perceptions, habits, etc. of end-users, relating to safety technologies. This was done using an internet-based survey tool, Eurotest, throughout 12 European countries: Belgium, United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal, Austria, Croatia, Norway and Switzerland.
- Information was also directly gathered from professional bodies, through specific questionnaires, in order to know their opinions on safety technologies.
- The gathered psycho-sociological data was analysed according to standard methodology analysis.
These tasks led to a set of training system requirements (related to methodological aspects, contents and also management aspects), allowing for the definition and elaboration of the training system.
The training system consisted of several modules adapted to the specific training recipients, and was also characterised by a technological updating module. This training system was then tested, the trials being carried out within each sub-group of professionals.
Safety-Technopro provided two principal sets of results.
1. The first set of results was the complete assessment of ADAS and IVSS, in their relationship to end-user acceptance. Based on a Europe-wide survey, this assessment took into account both professional bodies and end users, and provided insights into:
- awareness of safety problems;
- cultural meaning of safety and of safety technologies;
- expectations on a cognitive and emotional level;
- fairness of (anticipated) implementation processes;
- behavioural adaptation to new technologies;
- willingness to pay;
- willingness to use.
This study was carried out in 12 countries, providing useful user types and cross-country distributions.
2. The second set of results concerned the development of the Safety-Technopro training system.
Accessible through the Safety-Technopro project's website, this training system lists ADAS and IVSS applications and explains them in a manner relevant to professional bodies, by using standard psychological and cognitive tools. All available information is grouped in four areas for all systems: presentation, benefits, technical information and use.
Awareness of ADAS and IVSS applications, with respect to end-user acceptance and adoption is key to road safety promotion in the European Union. Under this assumption, methodologies and tools increasing public awareness of such systems ranks high on the EU's road-safety agenda.Therefore, the Safety-Technopro project's main result, in a policy perspective, is twofold:
- a complete survey has been conducted on ADAS and IVSS applications and related usage and practices regarding end-user acceptance;
- professional bodies have been identified as agents of safety technology awareness and adoption by end users.