Red-light Running and Limited Visibility Due to LTV's Using the UCF Driving Simulator

The University of Central Florida (UCF) driving simulator was used to test a proposed pavement-marking design. This marking is placed upstream of signalized intersections to assist the motorists with advance warning concerning the occurrence of the clearance interval. The results of the experiment have indicated promising results for intersection safety. Firstly, compared to regular intersections, the pavement marking could result in a 74.3% reduction in red-light running. In comparison, the pavement marking reduced the number of occurrences where drivers chose to continue through an intersection when it was not safe to proceed compared to the without marking, and this result is correlated to less red-light running rate with marking. According to survey results, all of the tested subjects gave a positive evaluation of the pavement-marking countermeasure and nobody felt confused or uncomfortable when they made stop-go decisions. In comparison between scenarios without marking and with marking, there is no significant difference found in the operating speeds and driver brake response times, which proved that the marking has no significantly negative effect on driver behaviors at intersections. The UCF driving simulator was also used to test vertical and horizontal visibility blockages. For the horizontal visibility blockage, two sub-scenarios were designed, and the results confirmed that light truck vehicles (LTVs), including vans, sport utility vehicles and light duty trucks, contribute to the increase of rear-end collisions on the roads. This finding may be attributed to the fact that LTVs cause horizontal visibility blockage. Indeed, the results showed that passenger car drivers behind LTVs are prone to speed more and to keep a small gap with the latter relative to driving behind passenger cars. From the survey analysis 65% of the subjects said that they drive close to LTVs in real life. As for the vertical visibility blockage, three sub-scenarios were designed in the driving simulator, and the results confirmed that larger size vehicles (LSVs) increase the rate of red light running significantly due to vertical visibility blockage of the traffic signal pole. However, the behavior of the drivers when they drive behind LSVs is not different than their behavior when they drive behind passenger cars. The suggested addition of the traffic signal pole on the side of the road significantly decreased the red light running rate. Moreover, 65% of the subjects driving behind an LSV with the proposed additional traffic signal pole said that the traffic signal pole is effective and that is should be applied to the real world.

• Record URL:
  • https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/research/reports/fdot-bd548-01-rpt.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  • https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/research/reports/fdot-bd548-01.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Central Florida, Orlando

  Center for Advanced Transportation Systems Simulation
  4000 Central Florida Boulevard, P.O. Box 162450
  Orlando, FL  United States  32816-2450

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Structures Research Center, 605 Suwannee Street
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399
• Authors:
  • Radwan, Essam
  • Yan, Xuedong
  • Harb, Ramy
  • Klee, Harold
  • Abdel-Aty, Mohamed
• Publication Date: 2005-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 171p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Countermeasures; Drivers; Driving simulators; Light trucks; Location; Rear end crashes; Red light running; Road markings; Sport utility vehicles; Traffic signals; Vans; Visibility
• Uncontrolled Terms: Horizontal visibility; Large size vehicles; Vertical visibility
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I73: Traffic Control; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01002020
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-043 858
• Contract Numbers: BD548, RPWO 1
• Files: HSL, UTC, TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 20 2005 4:05PM