TTI and TEEX Deliver First-of-Its-Kind Texas First Responder Guide for Automated Vehicles
A joint team from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), led by TTI’s Bradley Trefz and TEEX’s Ray Ivie, recently completed and delivered the Texas First Responder Guide to Interactions with Automated Vehicles to the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) Research and Technology Implementation Division.
The project focused on identifying strategies and tools first responders need to safely interact with automated vehicles (AVs) in both routine and emergency situations. Researchers conducted a comprehensive literature review and stakeholder interviews, culminating in a two-day summit that brought together representatives from the AV industry, government agencies, first responder organizations and other key stakeholders to identify critical issues and assess policy needs.
Based on this work, the team developed a Texas-specific catalog of scenarios and best practices, along with practical guides for identifying AVs and contacting vehicle operators.
The resources offer first responders clear procedures for identifying AVs and a structured approach to handling AV-related incidents. Because the AV industry continues to evolve rapidly, the project team will maintain and update the guide to ensure the content remains current and useful.
“It was a real honor to work with such an outstanding team of researchers and with our partners at TxDOT to achieve this milestone,” Trefz said. “The team did a lot of work with some outstanding people in the responder community, the AV industry, non-profit organizations and federal agencies to bring this project to fruition. We’re excited to continue that work to improve roadway safety for the public and first responders as AVs deploy more widely. TxDOT led the way in funding this effort and their foresight on this issue and continued support will significantly advance AV safety in Texas and beyond.”
Trefz will share insights from this project during the Lab @ MassDOT Virtual Autonomous Vehicle Lunch Talk on July 23, where he will speak with first responders in the Greater Boston area about the guide’s development and implementation.
