Promotion of cooperative lane changes by use of emotional vehicle-to-vehicle communication

This driving simulator study aimed to encourage cooperative lane changes through vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and explore whether emotional or rational communication content is better in promoting cooperative lane change. A total of 960 lane-changing datapoints from 30 participants in a driving simulation environment were collected. The participants' behavior, driving-related data, and emotional responses were recorded and analyzed. The results revealed that the trigger time to collision (TTC) between the lane changer and the following vehicle in the target lane and communication types were all important factors influencing the willingness of drivers to cooperate. V2V communication could significantly increase the willingness of the driver in the following vehicle to cooperate compared to the traditional method in which desire to change lanes is conveyed with only turn lights. The effect of different communication contents on willingness to cooperate did not vary significantly; however, emotional communication was superior to rational communication in some cases. This indicates that changing lanes owing to an emergency was more likely to be successful. The results of this study can provide a reference for V2V communication design for a safer and more comfortable driving experience.