Intersection Kinematics: A Pilot Study of Driver Turning Behavior with Application to Pedestrian Obscuration by A-Pillars

Vehicle turn trajectories from a naturalistic driving database were modeled using Bezier curves. A-pillar geometry from 56 vehicles was analyzed to develop representative and extreme cases of A-pillar obscuration. A new methodology was developed for quantifying plan-view obscuration in intersections during left turns. The driver-side A-pillar results in a region of high obscuration immediately to the left of the entrance to the intersection-departure lane. The analysis showed that A-pillars that are closer to the forward line of sight result in high-obscuration regions that are closer to the vehicle travel path. Pedestrians in these regions would be at risk of remaining undetected by a driver. Turn trajectories within the range observed also affected the distribution of obscuration, with shallower turns producing less severe obscuration.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

  2901 Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109-2150
• Authors:
  • Reed, M
• Publication Date: 2008-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: 25p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash risk forecasting; Intersections; Kinematics; Left turn lanes; Motor vehicle operations; Pedestrians; Traffic flow; Traffic safety; Travel behavior; Vehicle trajectories
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01135237
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTRI-2008-54
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 21 2009 8:11AM