Effects of major-road vehicle speed and driver age and gender on left-turn gap acceptance

Because the driver's gap-acceptance maneuver is a complex and risky driving behavior, it is a highly concerned topic for traffic safety and operation. Previous studies have mainly focused on the driver's gap acceptance decision itself but did not pay attention to the maneuver process and driving behaviors. Using a driving simulator experiment for left-turn gap acceptance at a stop-controlled intersection, this study evaluated the effects of major traffic speed and driver age and gender on gap acceptance behaviors. The experiment results illustrate relationships among drivers' left-turn gap decision, driver's acceleration rate, steering action, and the influence of the gap-acceptance maneuver on the vehicles in the major traffic stream. The experiment results identified an association between high crash risk and high traffic speed at stop-controlled intersections. The older drivers, especially older female drivers, displayed a conservative driving attitude as a compensation for reduced driving ability, but also showed to be the most vulnerable group for the relatively complex driving maneuvers.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V5S-4MVN07D-1/2/0f7d67b37bb45ce0496e1002548f8f84
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier
• Authors:
  • Yan, Xuedong
  • Radwan, Essam
  • Guo, Dahai
• Publication Date: 2007-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 843-852
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Behavior; Drivers; Driving; Driving simulators; Gap acceptance; Gender; High risk drivers; Left turns; Traffic safety; Traffic speed; Unsignalized intersections
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01053682
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 20 2007 9:53AM