GAP ACCEPTANCE AND TRAFFIC CONFLICT SIMULATION AS A MEASURE OF RISK

A new method of measuring gap acceptance behaviour of drivers is described. It has been used to study the behaviour of turning drivers at a selection of priority controlled T-junctions outside urban areas. The data thus obtained are used in a simulation model to predict conflict rates in turning manoeuvres. It is found that the ranking by frequency of conflict of such junctions given by this model agrees well with that obtained from five-year recorded injury accident data. The effect of various parameters, including age and sex of driver on gap-acceptance behaviour is discussed. A new model of headway distributions on major roads is given.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory

  Road User Characterisitcs Division, Old Wokingham Road
  Crowthorne RG11 6AU, Berkshire,   England 
• Authors:
  • McDowell, MRC
  • Wennell, J
  • Storr, P A
  • Darzentas, J
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 28 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Drivers; Forecasting; Gap acceptance; Gender; Hazards; Headways; Risk assessment; T intersections; Traffic conflicts; Traffic simulation; Turning traffic
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver age; Turning movements
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00382507
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SR 776, HS-035 612
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 30 1984 12:00AM