Analysis of Driver Behavior and Operations at Intersection Short Lanes

With the ever-increasing demand to add roadway capacity in a safe and efficient manner, the application of auxiliary through lanes (ATLs) at intersections has increased in recent years. ATL intersections exist when there is an added through lane introduced upstream of a traffic signal and removed downstream of the intersection via a gradually tapered merge. In theory, these lanes increase the capacity of signalized intersections with minimal, if any, impact on safety; however, the intersection geometry presents several unique challenges for drivers. Furthermore, the benefits of increased capacity are only realized when drivers are making decisions that maximize the utilization of the introduced ATL and safety is not compromised. The current research effort employed driving simulation, microsimulation, and field study to evaluate the operational efficiency of ATLs and driver performance elements related to their operation. The initial hypothesis evaluated the extent to which current field operations are reflective of modeled or predicted operations. This was evaluated in microsimulation and considers traditional intersection performance measures amongst others. Subsequent to that initial analysis, the remaining hypotheses evaluated are primarily related to ATL utilization. More specifically, the focus is on which factors contribute to drivers’ decision making regarding use in these intersections. The driving simulation portion of this research investigates human decision making at ATL intersections. These behavioral data were evaluated against the authors' previous findings in microsimulation and in the field. The results provide evidence to suggest optimal ATL design for maximizing driver performance and, subsequently, intersection capacity and safety.

• Record URL:
  http://safersim.nads-sc.uiowa.edu/final_reports/UM%202%20Y2_Report.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/35655
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Massachusetts, Amherst

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  130 Natural Resources Road
  Amherst, MA  United States  01003

  Safety Research Using Simulation University Transportation Center (SaferSim)

  University of Iowa
  Iowa City, IA  United States  52242

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Knodler Jr, Michael A
  • Christofa, Eleni
  • Tainter, Francis
• Publication Date: 2016-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 23p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Auxiliary lanes; Behavior; Decision making; Driving simulators; Field studies; Highway capacity; Highway safety; Microsimulation; Signalized intersections
• Uncontrolled Terms: Operational efficiency
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01654255
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 19 2017 12:23PM