Methodology for assessment of impacts of ITS on vulnerable road users

Up to date, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) have succeeded in achieving safer, cleaner and more efficient transport for road vehicles. However, this level of success has not been reached for Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs). The VRUITS project aims at producing an ITS assessment framework that accounts for the specific needs of VRUs. This is achieved by disaggregating the impacts on VRUs from those of other road users. The assessment methodology aims at producing a VRU-centric approach of assessing the impacts of ITS on vulnerable road users with focus on safety, mobility, comfort and environmental impacts. Existing assessment methodologies are modified to take into consideration the specific characteristics of VRUs. The assessment of ITS impacts is based on the identification and description of the main mechanisms through which each of the examined ITS can affect road user behaviour having an impact on safety and/or mobility of VRUs. The impact of each examined ITS is subsequently quantified with the assistance of experts' estimates. Finally, a socio-economic cost-benefit analysis is foreseen to weight the costs and benefits of each ITS concluding which can yield the greatest benefits to VRUs compared to their costs if adopted.