A Driving Simulator Evaluation of Cross-Sectional Design Elements and the Resulting Driving Behaviors

This research explores the relationship between the cross-sectional design elements and the impact on selected driver attributes such as speed profiles and lateral positioning. In this experiment a traditional collector-type base roadway of 1.5 miles with a 14 ft travel lane and an 8 ft shoulder was modeled using an advanced driving simulator. The base scenario was subsequently reconfigured with four different cross-sectional designs with various elements within the same physical right-of-way. Specific design elements included narrower lanes, bicycle lanes, raised center median and a curvilinear roadway profile. Twenty participants each drove five developed scenarios, which were presented in a counterbalanced fashion to mitigate any potential order effect. Participants’ speed and lateral position were recorded throughout each of the drives. Across the virtual scenarios the same performance measures were analyzed by comparing data at each of five controlled collection points (checkpoints). Experimental results were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tests. The obtained results show that the mean participants’ speed was higher than the posted speed limit in all scenarios, except for the curvilinear profile scenario. There was no statistically significant difference in speeds between the base (Sc1), narrower lane (Sc2), bicycle lane (Sc3) and raised median (Sc4) scenarios. In the curved roadway profile scenario (Sc5), the difference in speeds was statistically significant. The lateral positioning between the scenarios across the checkpoints was significant. Overall, the results suggest that narrower lanes, bicycle lanes, or a raised median have no significant influence on speed reduction. Nevertheless, narrower lanes result in vehicle lateral position towards the center lane.

• Record URL:
  http://safersim.nads-sc.uiowa.edu/final_reports/UM%204%20Y2_Report.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/35381
• 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:
  • Gongalla, Bhavana
  • Fitzpatrick, Cole D
  • Knodler Jr, Michael A
  • Christofa, Eleni
  • Samuel, Siby
• Publication Date: 2017-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 22p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Drivers; Driving simulators; Highway design; Lateral placement; Operating speed; Statistical analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Collector roads; Speed profiles; Vehicle position
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01654257
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: UTC, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 19 2017 12:23PM