How do the recognizability and driving styles of automated vehicles affect human drivers’ gap acceptance at T- Intersections?

Future traffic will be composed of both human-driven vehicles (HDVs) and automated vehicles (AVs). To accurately predict the performance of mixed traffic, an important aspect is describing HDV behavior when interacting with AVs. A few exploratory studies show that HDVs change their behavior when interacting with AVs, being influenced by...

The impact of a dedicated lane for connected and automated vehicles on the behaviour of drivers of manual vehicles

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are expected to enhance traffic efficiency by driving at shorter time headways, and traffic safety by shorter reaction times. However, one of the main concerns regarding their deployment is the mixed traffic situation, in which CAVs and manually driven vehicles (MVs) share the same road. This study...

Adaptations in driver behaviour characteristics during control transitions from full-range Adaptive Cruise Control to manual driving: an on-road study

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) can reduce traffic congestion and accidents. In dense traffic flow conditions and when changing lanes, drivers prefer to deactivate the ACC. These control transitions between automation and manual driving could impact driver behaviour characteristics. However, few studies have analysed the magnitude and duration of...

Design and operation of dedicated lanes for connected and automated vehicles on motorways: A conceptual framework and research agenda

Dedicated Lanes (DLs) have been proposed as a potential scenario for the deployment of Automated and/or Connected Vehicles (C/AVs) on the road network. However, evidence-based knowledge regarding the impacts of different design configurations, utilization policies, and the design of their access/egress on traffic safety and efficiency is...

How do drivers negotiate horizontal ramp curves in system interchanges in the Netherlands?

On interchanges there are higher probabilities of risky situations compared to uninterrupted motorway sections due to increased speed variability and higher frequency of lane-changes. In this study, we focus on understanding and modelling drivers’ longitudinal speed behavior when negotiating horizontal ramp curves in interchanges in the...

Driving behaviour at motorway ramps and weaving segments based on empirical trajectory data

In the vicinity of ramps, drivers make route choices, change lanes and in most cases also adjust their speeds. This can trigger anticipatory behaviour by the surrounding vehicles, which are also reflected in lane changes and/or changes in speed. This phenomenon is called turbulence and is widely recognised by the scientific literature and...

Modelling decisions of control transitions and target speed regulations in full-range Adaptive Cruise Control based on Risk Allostasis Theory

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and automated vehicles can contribute to reduce traffic congestion and accidents. Recently, an on-road study has shown that drivers may prefer to deactivate full-range ACC when closing in on a slower leader and to overrule it by pressing the gas pedal a few seconds after the activation of the system. Notwithstanding...

Resuming manual control or not? Modeling choices of control transitions in full-range adaptive cruise control

Automated vehicles and driving assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control (ACC) are expected to reduce traffic congestion, accidents, and levels of emissions. Field operational tests have found that drivers may prefer to deactivate ACC in dense traffic flow conditions and before changing lanes. Despite the potential effects of these...

Critical assessment of methodologies for operations and safety evaluations of freeway turbulence

Turbulence in traffic is a commonly known phenomenon, but the exact characteristics of this phenomenon are not yet clear. Turbulence reflects individual changes in speed, headways, and lanes in the traffic stream. The current freeway design guidelines prescribe measures for handling turbulence, such as sufficient ramp spacing and spacing...