AUTOMATED COLLISION NOTIFICATION (ACN) FIELD OPERATIONAL TEST (FOT) EVALUATION REPORT

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory conducted the Independent Evaluation of the Automated Collision Notification (ACN) Field Operational Test (FOT) for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The goal of ACN is to use technology to provide faster and smarter emergency medical responses in an attempt to save lives and reduce disabilities from injuries. To attain this goal an ACN system should automatically determine that a motor vehicle has been in a collision, notify emergency response personnel of the collision and the vehicle location, provide information concerning the crash, and establish a voice link between the vehicle and emergency response personnel. Information that might be provided about the crash includes estimates of crash severity and the probability of serious injury. The purpose of the ACN FOT was to demonstrate the feasibility of fielding an ACN system and the benefits of an ACN system to victims of motor vehicle crashes. The ACN FOT was initiated in October 1995 with the first installations of ACN systems in vehicles starting in June of 1997. This report evaluates the results of the ACN FOT using data collected through the end of the test period in August of 2000. The ACN FOT and current activity in the commercial marketplace have demonstrated that the development and deployment of ACN systems is technically feasible. The potential benefits of an ACN system result from reduced public safety answering point (PSAP) notification times, improved knowledge of the vehicle location, and estimates of crash severity and the probability of serious injury.