Picture this: You're a first responder arriving at a vehicle crash. Your first move is to assess the condition of the people in the vehicle, but when you walk up to it, there is no door handle. It's a new vehicle with automated doors.
Would you know what to do?
As automated vehicles begin to look less like science fiction and more like a possible new reality, our Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is looking toward the future with an eye for how to keep both people using Minnesota's roads and first responders safe.
OTS and its partners in the Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) program joined the Emergency Responder Institute and Governors Highway Safety Association recently to offer training in automated vehicle technology for emergency responders. The training is the first of its kind in the country. It will help emergency responders save lives in the field, according to Katy Kressin, TZD program coordinator, West Central region.
“Time is of the essence when dealing with emergency situations, especially when a life is at risk," Kressin said. “Emergency responders need to understand how automated vehicles work, and, more importantly, they need to understand how to handle various of types of emergency situations involving an active automated vehicle."
Fifty emergency responders from across Minnesota participated in the training, gaining a thorough understanding of automated vehicles, how they work and how to interact with them in emergency situations. For example, electric vehicle fires require different firefighting techniques and resources than traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines. When investigating a crash, knowing how to access and interpret data from the automated vehicle's onboard systems can provide valuable insights into the incident.
The training delved into the various types of automated vehicle technology available. While self-driving cars with no driver don't currently exist in Minnesota, more companies are adding driver assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control. Adaptive cruise control allows a driver to select a speed and following distance that the vehicle will automatically adhere to. If a vehicle with adaptive cruise control comes up behind a slower vehicle, it will adjust the speed without any action from the driver to maintain a safe following distance.
Other vehicles on the road now have automated features including collision warnings, automatic emergency braking or lane departure warnings. Other vehicles are more fully automated, but with a driver onboard to make sure the vehicle is safe.
While automated vehicles aren't yet widespread, the time to get prepared is now.
“This training program isn't just about teaching; it's about learning too," Kressin said. “Participants showed a thirst for more knowledge and training on these road-sharing newcomers. Their input is invaluable, paving the way for a national curriculum that equips first responders across the country to face the automated vehicle future head-on."
The training conducted late last year serves as a pilot program aimed at shaping a national curriculum that equips first responders with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely interact with automated vehicles in an emergency like a car crash. OTS will have additional trainings as the curriculum is more fully developed.
