StopWatcher: A Mobile Application to Improve Stop Sign Awareness for Driving Safety. (18th December 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tucker, Carl; Tucker, Rachel; Zheng, Jun
• Other Names: Rajatheva Nandana Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of vehicular technology. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-12-18
• Subjects: Mobile communication systems -- Periodicals; Motor vehicles -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Radiocommunications mobiles; Véhicules automobiles; Mobile communication systems; Motor vehicles -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 629.20284
• DOI: 10.1155/2012/532568
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-5702

Abstract

Abstract : Stop signs are the primary form of traffic control in the United States. However, they have a tendency to be much less effective than other forms of traffic control like traffic lights. This is due to their smaller size, lack of lighting, and the fact that they may become visually obscured from the road. In this paper, we offer a solution to this problem in the form of a mobile application implemented in the Android platform: StopWatcher. It is designed to alert a driver when they are approaching a stop sign using a voice notification system (VNS). A field test was performed in a snowy environment. The test results demonstrate that the application can detect all of the stop signs correctly, even when some of them were obstructed by the snow, which in turn greatly improves the user awareness of stop signs.