Strategic crossing decisions in vehicle interactions at uncontrolled intersections: A networked driving simulator...

Area of Science:

• Traffic Safety
• Human Factors in Transportation
• Vehicle Dynamics

Background:

• Uncontrolled intersections pose risks due to driver decision-making uncertainty.
• Misjudged crossing or yielding decisions can lead to vehicle collisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors influencing crossing decisions at uncontrolled intersections.
• To identify critical transition states in driver decision-making.
• To develop a model for predicting crossing decisions based on vehicle and human factors.

Main Methods:

• Developed a networked two-vehicle driving simulator for straight-going (SG) and left-turn (LT) vehicle interactions.
• Analyzed vehicle acceleration sequences and distance to conflict (DTC) to find critical transition states.
• Applied a random parameter logit model incorporating human factors to analyze crossing decisions.

Main Results:

• Speed difference and DTC difference significantly influence crossing decisions, unlike individual speed or DTC.
• Penalty records significantly affect both SG and LT drivers' decisions.
• Income level impacts SG drivers, while gender influences LT drivers' decisions.

Conclusions:

• Two-vehicle simulations are crucial for capturing interaction variables.
• Human factors like penalty records, income, and gender play significant roles in intersection decision-making.
• Findings support connected vehicle systems and policies to reduce crash risk.