Side collisions at intersections account for 30-40 % in vehicle-to-vehicle accidents in most countries. Side collisions usually become unavoidable due to human response time even though drivers in collided vehicles perceive an imminent risk of collision. Side collisions at intersections become often fatal because impacted vehicles have little space to absorb impact energy. Vehicle manufacturers utilize side airbags and curtain airbags to mitigate injuries to occupants in impacted vehicles to overcome structural design constraints.
In the past decade advanced technologies become available to improve vehicle safety. For example, a cruise control system adopted radar technology from aero industry, evolved into an adaptive cruise control system and further into automatic emergency brake system.
In this study the technical feasibility of a system to avoid or mitigate side collisions at intersections has been explored by utilizing advance technologies, such as radar technology and electronic stability control system. The following factors were taken into consideration; acceleration and average speed of the vehicles approaching to intersections, human behavior in approaching to and starting from intersections, and characteristics of road structures.
Based on investigated facts, a side collision accident situation was assumed at a 4-way intersection. An algorithm for determining anticipated side impacts was developed. Mathematical calculations showed that avoiding or mitigating side collisions could be achieved by forced deceleration or acceleration activated by determination algorithm. This study showed that side collision avoidance or mitigation system was feasible by utilizing current advanced technologies.