* Corresponding author. Tel: +1(416)454-9767, Fax: +1(888)206-2004 E-mail: Jenab@ieee.org (K. Jenab) © 2012 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved. doi: 10.5267/j.ijiec.2012.08.004 International Journal of Industrial Engineering Computations 3 (2012) 731–742 Contents lists available at GrowingScience International Journal of Industrial Engineering Computations homepage: www.GrowingScience.com/ijiec Reliability prediction for the vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and passive safety systems (PSS) Khashayar Hojjati-Emami a , Balbir S. Dhillon a and Kouroush Jenab b a Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ottawa, Canada b Society of Reliability Engineers-Ottawa, Canada A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T Article history: Received 18 July 2012 Received in revised format 14 August 2012 Accepted August 15 2012 Available online 15 August 2012 The human error has been reported as a major root cause in road accidents in today’s world. The human as a driver in road vehicles composed of human, mechanical and electrical components is constantly exposed to changing surroundings (e.g., road conditions, environment)which deteriorate the driver’s capacities leading to a potential accident. The auto industries and transportation authorities have realized that similar to other complex and safety sensitive transportation systems, the road vehicles need to rely on both advanced technologies (i.e., Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)) and Passive Safety Systems (PSS) (e.g.,, seatbelts, airbags) in order to mitigate the risk of accidents and casualties. In this study, the advantages and disadvantages of ADAS as active safety systems as well as passive safety systems in road vehicles have been discussed. Also, this study proposes models that analyze the interactions between human as a driver and ADAS Warning and Crash Avoidance Systems and PSS in the design of vehicles. Thereafter, the mathematical models have been developed to make reliability prediction at any given time on the road transportation for vehicles equipped with ADAS and PSS. Finally, the implications of this study in the improvement of vehicle designs and prevention of casualties are discussed. © 2012 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved Keywords: Reliability Road Accident Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Human Error Passive Safety Systems (PSS) Crash Avoidance System Warning System 1. Introduction The daily road accidents result a huge cost to our modern life (Fletcher, 2009). OECD (2006) reported that the road accidents could be considered as the primary cause of death for young European males. Each year more than one million people die worldwide in traffic crashes and further fifty million people are seriously injured as the result of driving (WHO, 2001). Because the condition of road systems is constantly changing, drivers constantly have to make dynamic adjustments and adaptations to their driving behavior in response to the dynamic changes (Young& Salmon, 2012). Any drivers’ distractions reduce drivers’ situation awareness that may lead to road crashes (Salmon et al., 2011). In 2012, Young & Salmon investigated various non-driving-related activities that caused drivers’ distractions.There is no doubt that driver’s error is a major factor in road