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CNN Live At Daybreak
University of Iowa Trying to Advance Science of Defensive Driving
Aired December 20, 2002 - 06:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Many of you will be heading out to the highways this holiday, and, of course, you need to be extra careful, because even the safest drivers can get into trouble in a hurry. Now, the University of Iowa is trying to advance the science of defensive driving with a high tech driving simulator.
CNN's Julie Vallese is in Iowa City with this exclusive look -- Julie.
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
It was 10 years in the making and a few bumps along the way, but a partnership between the federal government, private industry and the University of Iowa have paved the road to here. Behind me, the most advanced vehicle simulator in the world. Go inside and it's the ultimate in virtual reality. There's a full sized vehicle, today a Chevy Malibu, completely surrounded by digital pictures. Researchers are able to see inside the vehicle and observe testing, which is all too real.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VALLESE (voice-over): It may look futuristic, but it's state-of- the-art, the most technologically advanced driving simulator in the world, originally projected to cost the U.S. Department of Transportation about $50 million. The final price tag, $80 million, a small price to pay, say administrators, to improve traffic safety.
GINGER WATSON, CHIEF APPLICATION SCIENTIST: Eighty million dollars is a lot of money, but don't forget we spend $230 billion every year on the costs of motor vehicle crash. And we really have no effective way to look at driver error issues.
VALLESE: Until now. The national advanced driving simulator has been up and running for a little less than a year. In the past, most research has focused on building a safer car. Now, researchers are focusing on the people behind the wheel.
WATSON: Our data shows that up to 75 percent of crashes are human error or something that the driver did contributed to the crash. This is a way to get at the cause of three quarters of crashes.
VALLESE: The simulator is atop what is called a hexapod, the spider like legs that move the cab around a floor about the size of a basketball court. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The motion system allows us to reproduce accelerations that very closely match what somebody would feel in a real car. This is very unique because it immerses the driver, allowing them to be much more naturally behaving.
VALLESE: Also unique, the 360 degree visuals. The driver is surrounded by virtual scenery and situations found in the real world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VALLESE: Now, besides the $80 million price tag, the research isn't cheap. It's about $1,000 an hour to run -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Well, pretty interesting, though.
Julie, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Driving>
Aired December 20, 2002 - 06:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Many of you will be heading out to the highways this holiday, and, of course, you need to be extra careful, because even the safest drivers can get into trouble in a hurry. Now, the University of Iowa is trying to advance the science of defensive driving with a high tech driving simulator.
CNN's Julie Vallese is in Iowa City with this exclusive look -- Julie.
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
It was 10 years in the making and a few bumps along the way, but a partnership between the federal government, private industry and the University of Iowa have paved the road to here. Behind me, the most advanced vehicle simulator in the world. Go inside and it's the ultimate in virtual reality. There's a full sized vehicle, today a Chevy Malibu, completely surrounded by digital pictures. Researchers are able to see inside the vehicle and observe testing, which is all too real.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VALLESE (voice-over): It may look futuristic, but it's state-of- the-art, the most technologically advanced driving simulator in the world, originally projected to cost the U.S. Department of Transportation about $50 million. The final price tag, $80 million, a small price to pay, say administrators, to improve traffic safety.
GINGER WATSON, CHIEF APPLICATION SCIENTIST: Eighty million dollars is a lot of money, but don't forget we spend $230 billion every year on the costs of motor vehicle crash. And we really have no effective way to look at driver error issues.
VALLESE: Until now. The national advanced driving simulator has been up and running for a little less than a year. In the past, most research has focused on building a safer car. Now, researchers are focusing on the people behind the wheel.
WATSON: Our data shows that up to 75 percent of crashes are human error or something that the driver did contributed to the crash. This is a way to get at the cause of three quarters of crashes.
VALLESE: The simulator is atop what is called a hexapod, the spider like legs that move the cab around a floor about the size of a basketball court. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The motion system allows us to reproduce accelerations that very closely match what somebody would feel in a real car. This is very unique because it immerses the driver, allowing them to be much more naturally behaving.
VALLESE: Also unique, the 360 degree visuals. The driver is surrounded by virtual scenery and situations found in the real world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VALLESE: Now, besides the $80 million price tag, the research isn't cheap. It's about $1,000 an hour to run -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Well, pretty interesting, though.
Julie, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Driving>
