Driver Assisted Truck Platooning in Florida
PI: Dr. Carl Crane, Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida
Co-PIs: Ed Hutchinson, Florida Department of Transportation; Richard Bishop, Principal, Bishop Consulting

A pilot test of Driver-Assistive Truck Platooning (DATP) technology was recently conducted along the Florida Turnpike. A two-truck platoon, spaced 66 feet apart, made short- and long-haul runs. The objective of this study was to assist the FDOT and Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) in conducting research of DATP in Florida and developing guidelines for implementation. As a result of the demonstration, decals indicating a platooning capable truck may be needed to reduce the potential unnecessary traffic stops for following too closely.
Final Report will be posted on the FDOT website.
Active STRIDE Research Projects
The UFTI’s STRIDE Center has 10 ongoing research projects that address several aspects of mitigating congestion. These projects focus on one or more of the following research thrusts: 1) Technology Effects and Opportunities; 2) Operations and Management; 3) Design; 4) Data; and 5) Users. STRIDE is the Region 4 (Southeast) U.S. Department of Transportation’s University Transportation Center grantee, which focuses on reducing congestion . To view a list of these projects,  click here .
University of Florida’s Institute for Mobility, Activity and Participation Investigates the Efficacy of the DriveFocus App for Teen Drivers
In the United States, one-third of all deaths for individuals ages 15-29 years are attributed to road traffic injuries. There is a need for intervention strategies to improve the driving skills of young adults. The Institute of Mobility, Activity and Participation (I-MAP), within the College of Public Health and Health Professions, collaborated with researchers from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, to investigate the preliminary impact of hazard perception training via the DriveFocus TM app, on the underlying skills of young drivers. The study “Pilot Efficacy of a DriveFocus Intervention on the Driving Performance of Young Drivers” examined the efficacy of the app as an intervention on the ability of teens to detect (visual scanning) and respond (adjustment to stimuli) to critical roadway information. From baseline to post-test 2, visual scanning, adjustment to stimuli, and total driving errors decreased, the potential efficacy of the DriveFocus app as an intervention was demonstrated.