Conflict Severity (CS)

Description

CS is concerned with solely estimating the severity of a potential collision in a scenario [Bagdadi2013]. It thus presents as a suitable factor that can enhance various collision probability metrics in ensuring a more accurate representation of criticality. From the perspective of an actor \(A_1\) performing a braking maneuver at time \(t_\mathit{evasive}\), it is defined as

\[\mathit{CS}(A_1, A_2) = \Delta v(A_1, A_2, t_\mathit{evasive}) - \left( \mathit{TTA}(A_1, A_2) \cdot \|a_{1}(t_\mathit{evasive})\|_2 \cdot \frac{m_2}{m_1 + m_2} \right) .\]

Thus, it compares the (extended) \(\Delta v\) at time of the evasive maneuver against the \(\Delta v\) at the potential collision point as predicted by TTA if \(A_1\) conducts an emergency braking, assuming \(v_2(t_\mathit{evasive} + \mathit{TTA}(A_1, A_2)) = 0\). CS factors in the relative mass difference due to the correlation between severe injuries and fatality outcome, measured on the Abbreviated Injury Scale, and the mass ratio of the involved actors [Evans1994].

Properties

Run-time capability

No, as TTA can only be computed once evasive maneuver has been identified

Target values

Case study on manually labeled critical scenarios identified a mean CS of \(3.19 \pm 3.7\) m/s, but severity is dependent on speed and type of actors [Bagdadi2013]

Subject type

Any two actors, also suitable for VRUs

Scenario type

Any scenario for which a TTA can be determined

Inputs

\(v_1(t_\mathit{evasive})\), \(v_2(t_\mathit{evasive})\), \(m_1, m_2\), \(\mathit{TTA}(A_1, A_2)\), \(a_{1,\mathit{min}}(t_\mathit{evasive})\)

Output scale

\((-\infty,\infty)\), velocity (m/s), ratio scale

Reliability

Comparable to TTA

Validity

High validity for severity estimation inside scenario type of TTA, as indicated by empirical analysis against a traffic conflict technique, specifically for actors with different masses [Bagdadi2013]

Sensitivity

Medium, as for critical scenarios where no evasive maneuver is identified, CS returns no value

Specificity

Comparable to TTA, but increased due to consideration of severity

Prediction model

Depends on prediction model of TTA