Traffic Safety Analysis in Underground Urban Expressway Using Driving Simulation System MOVIC-T4

This paper describes how underground urban expressways are a great possibility for settling many existing transportation-related problems such as traffic congestion in high density areas and the division of neighborhoods due to an elevated roadway. However, they may also have high risks regarding traffic safety. Therefore, it is important for a pre-analysis of the traffic safety to be made. This paper describes the traffic safety analysis in an underground urban expressway using the motion-base driving simulator MOVIC-T4. The targeted road is an underground urban expressway with around 15 kilometer length. First, the potential accident risk induced by deterioration of driver's awareness level in the ordinary driving condition is analyzed by measuring the driver's physiological data, skin potential level (SPL). SPL can be used as an index to evaluate the driver's awareness level. Lastly, the secondary accident risk of rear-end collision to the accident vehicle is analyzed. In addition, the simple information system is demonstrated under the abovementioned risky traffic situation and its effectiveness to collision avoidance is analyzed. The results indicated that the deterioration of driver's awareness level can occur while driving in underground urban expressways for around 10 minutes. An information system to warn the driver of an accident vehicle ahead can prevent a rear-end collision, but it can also induce excessive deceleration especially for elderly drivers.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Hirata, Terumitsu
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 85th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2006-1-22 to 2006-1-26
• Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 23p
• Monograph Title: TRB 85th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Awareness; City planning; Driving simulators; Elevated guideways; Expressways; Simulation; Traffic congestion; Traffic safety; Traffic simulation; Underground structures; Urban areas; Urban highways
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I80: Accident Studies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01031366
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 06-2184
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Aug 23 2006 7:59AM