IN-TRAFFIC DRIVER BEHAVIOR: DEVELOPMENT OF MEASURES AND EVALUATION OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FINLAND AND MICHIGAN

A study was designed (a) to develop an initial set of measures to observe driver behavior in different countries and (b) to compare driver behavior in Finland with driver behavior in Michigan by using these measures. Development of the measures emphasized equating environmental factors and traffic rules. For such conditions the study produced a reliable research tool providing potentially valuable results. The measures were applied in one middle-sized city in both regions, Lahti in Finland and Ann Arbor in Michigan. The results indicated the following main differences in driver behavior. Drivers in Lahti (compared with those in Ann Arbor) signaled more frequently before the lane change or turning and came to a full stop at intersections with a stop sign more frequently. The following trends were found: drivers in Lahti exceeded the speed limit more frequently but decreased the speed earlier while approaching the intersection from the secondary road, accelerated more slowly after turning onto the secondary road, and accepted slightly longer gaps when entering the main road. The following aspects of driver behavior did not differ in the two cities: the variance of the speed in free-flow traffic, the proportion of short headways in car-following situations, the frequency of no stops compared with rolling and full stops at intersections with a stop sign, and yielding to pedestrians at intersections. The differences that were found are likely consequences of differences in values and norms.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1995/1485/1485-010.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=IN-TRAFFIC+DRIVER+BEHAVIOR%3A+DEVELOPMENT+OF+MEASURES+AND+EVALUATION+OF+DIFFERENCES+BETWEEN+FINLAND+AND+MICHIGAN&author=J.+Luoma&publication_year=1995
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1485, Human Performance and Safety in Highway, Traffic, and ITS Systems. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Luoma, Julia
• Publication Date: 1995

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 71-79
• Monograph Title: Human performance and safety in highway, traffic, and ITS systems
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1485
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Drivers; Evaluation; Measuring methods; Trend (Statistics)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Differences
• Geographic Terms: Finland; Michigan
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00713538
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 13 1995 12:00AM