Investigating driving behavior characteristics on freeway curves under accumulated sand environments: evidence from a...

To investigate how drivers respond and adapt their vehicle control strategies when encountering varying degrees of accumulated sand encroachment on desert freeway curves-a critical safety hazard.

A 3D road framework replicating actual curve geometries was developed, and two sand encroachment scenarios (one-third and two-thirds coverage of the outside lane) were simulated. Fifty participants completed controlled driving simulator experiments. Data on driver decision-making and vehicle dynamics were collected and analyzed. Linear Mixed-effects Models (LMM) were applied to examine the influence of encroachment conditions and individual factors.

When accumulated sand encroached one-third of the outside lane, 72.73% of drivers adopted a lane-keeping strategy with deceleration; when two-thirds was encroached, 81.82% chose a lateral avoidance strategy. Increased sand coverage significantly affected the effectiveness of avoidance strategies. For lane-keeping, higher encroachment led to decreased lateral control stability, earlier braking, and stronger deceleration; for lateral avoidance, it prompted more aggressive maneuvers. LMM analysis showed sand encroachment had significant effects on vehicle control, while gender and driving experience did not significantly influence behavior.

Accumulated sand encroachment severity strongly influences driver decision-making and control strategies on desert freeway curves. These findings enrich the understanding of behavioral mechanisms in sand-affected scenarios and provide a scientific basis for safety management and proactive behavioral interventions on high-risk freeway segments.