In the design of an automobile, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) systems are installed to increase safety by reducing the severity of rear-end collisions, or even preventing them from occurring in the first place. FCW is a system that will inform the driver through a visual and/or tactile alert that braking is required to prevent a collision from occurring. FCW-only systems have no AEB installed to assist with the braking. In an AEB equipped car, the visual and/or tactile FCW alert will be given, followed by the vehicle automatically applying the brakes in a predetermined and calculated manner to avoid or reduce the collision speed. Like all Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, these systems are tuned during the Research and Development (R&D) process by a team of engineers from the vehicle and system manufacturers, and performance will vary based upon the goals of the vehicle manufacturer and the components used.

In this article, Automotive Engineering expert Roland Hoover discusses the variables that are considered during the R&D process, and how the performance of these systems is assessed during an investigation after a crash has occurred.

In this article, Civil Engineer, Thomas Lyden provides an overview of winter maintenance operations. His discussion includes two strategies for snow and ice control, anti-icing and de-icing, and how failure to adequately address hazardous road conditions sometimes manifests itself in our forensic casework.

In this piece, the focus is on Boating Safety Education and the importance of a pre-departure Safety Briefing. Good seamanship requires Captains, vessel operators and owners to have mitigation and contingency plans in place before and during a vessel’s voyage, and to be aware of and prepared for risks involved in maritime transit. Whether the vessel is a cruise ship, cargo vessel, ferry, yacht, charter or recreational boat, a prudent vessel operator should manage the level of risk.

This is the first in a series of articles, written by Marine Operations expert Captain Hendrik J. Keijer to address a variety of available methods and means which the level of risk aboard vessels can be managed.