This paper develops, implements and tests a framework for driving behavior modeling that integrates the various decisions, such as acceleration, lane changing and gap acceptance. Furthermore, the proposed framework is based on the concepts of short-term goal and short-term plan. Drivers are assumed to conceive and perform short-term plans in order to accomplish short-term goals. This behavioral framework supports a more realistic representation of the driving task, since it captures drivers' planning capabilities and allows decisions to be based on anticipated future conditions. An integrated driving behavior model, which utilizes these concepts, is developed. The model captures both lane changing and acceleration behaviors. The driver's short-term goal is defined by the target lane. Drivers who wish to change lanes but cannot change lanes immediately, select a short-term plan to perform the desired lane change. Short-term plans are defined by the various gaps in traffic in the target lane. Drivers adapt their acceleration behavior to facilitate the lane change using the target gap. Hence, inter-dependencies between lane changing and acceleration behaviors are captured.

https://toledo.net.technion.ac.il/files/2012/12/TomerToledoPhD.pdf

Integrated driving behavior modeling

The objective of this study was to evaluate the comprehension levels of highway traffic sign symbols used in different countries, to identify underlying rules that affect comprehension levels, and recommend approaches to deal with the problem. The need for such an evaluation was based on today's travel culture where people are often licensed in one country and then drive--without any further training--in another country. We compared the comprehension levels of different traffic sign symbols in four countries with moderate to high levels of motorization: Canada, Finland, Israel, and Poland. Five different driver populations were sampled in each country: novice drivers, college students, tourists, problem drivers, and older drivers. There were large differences in comprehension among specific sign messages, different countries, and different driver populations. Signs were comprehended best when they were consistent with general ergonomic guidelines for display design as they relate to spatial compatibility, conceptual compatibility, physical representation, familiarity, and standardization. Illustrations of compliance with these principles and violations of these principles are presented, and their implication for traffic safety are discussed. Specific recommendations for sign design that is compliant with ergonomic principles, and for greater international cooperation in sign symbol design are made.

Traffic sign symbol comprehension: a cross-cultural study.

A farewell to brake reaction times? Kinematics-dependent brake response in naturalistic rear-end emergencies

The influence of perceptual speed regulation on speed perception, choice, and control: tunnel wall characteristics and influences.

Car following models have been studied with many diverse approaches for decades. Nowadays, technological advances have significantly improved our traffic data collection capabilities. Conventional car following models rely on mathematical formulas and are derived from traffic flow theory; a property that often makes them more restrictive. On the other hand, data-driven approaches are more flexible and allow the incorporation of additional information to the model; however, they may not provide as much insight into traffic flow theory as the traditional models. In this research, an innovative methodological framework based on a data-driven approach is proposed for the estimation of car-following models, suitable for incorporation into microscopic traffic simulation models. An existing technique, i.e. locally weighted regression (loess), is defined through an optimization problem and is employed in a novel way. The proposed methodology is demonstrated using data collected from a sequence of instrumented vehicles in Naples, Italy. Gipps’ model, one of the most extensively used car-following models, is calibrated against the same data and used as a reference benchmark. Optimization issues are raised in both cases. The obtained results suggest that data-driven car-following models could be a promising research direction.

Towards data-driven car-following models

One of the most important requirements in highway design is the provision of adequate stopping sight distance at every point along the roadway. At a minimum, this sight distance should be long enough to enable a vehicle traveling at or near the design speed to stop before reaching a stationary object in its path. Stopping sight distance is the sum of two components—brake reaction distance and braking distance. Brake reaction distance is based on the vehicle's speed and the driver's perception-brake reaction time (PBRT). Four separate, but coordinated, driver braking performance studies measured driver perception—brake response to several different stopping sight distance situations. The results from the driver braking performance studies suggest that the mean perception-brake response time to an unexpected object scenario under controlled and open road conditions is about 1.1 s. The 95th percentile perception-brake response times for these same conditions was 2.0 s. The findings from these studies are con...

Driver Perception-Brake Response in Stopping Sight Distance Situations

Traffic control devices are intended to promote safe and uniform operation of motorized and nonmotorized traffic using the roadway. Motorists rely on traffic control devices to provide information about traffic laws and regulations, to identify potential roadway hazards, and to provide information to help them find their desired destinations. However, traffic control devices serve little purpose if they are not understood by a significant proportion of the driving population. The findings and recommendations of a 5-year research study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute to assess and improve motorist understanding of traffic control devices are presented. Phase I of the project was devoted to several evaluations of 52 devices, administered to 2,414 Texas drivers. Phase II of the project was devoted to the development and evaluation of alternative designs for 10 traffic signs identified in Phase I that exhibited potential for driver misunderstanding. The Phase II evaluations included four focus groups, an initial statewide survey of 747 Texas drivers, and a follow-up survey of 212 drivers. The results of all evaluations were analyzed to distinguish significant comprehension difficulties. Recommendations for each device were based on these results and include retaining the current standard design because of adequate comprehension levels, modifying the design or use of the device to increase comprehension levels, or conducting further research to better understand driver comprehension difficulties.

Driver understanding of alternative traffic signs

The Mexican border areas of Texas possess many unique characteristics that are not present in other parts of the state. One of the most obvious is the prevalence of Spanish as the primary language. Another characteristic is the large number of drivers from Mexico. These two factors may limit the ability of border area drivers to understand traffic control devices. The research study was conducted to determine how well drivers from Mexico understand 33 of the more significant traffic control devices used in the United States and Texas. The survey utilized flash-cards with open-ended questions to assess comprehension levels. It was administered to northbound traffic with Mexican license plates at international bridges in two Texas border cities. Driver responses were recorded on audiotape and later separated into several categories, including "correct" and "partially correct." The analysis of the responses indicate that, of the 45 questions that were asked about the 33 traffic control devices, approximately...

Mexican driver comprehension of u.s. traffic control devices

A three-year research project evaluated driver understanding of traffic control devices in Texas border areas The report describes the activities and findings of the third and final year of the research study In the third year, two surveys were conducted in both border and non-border locations The passenger car driver survey addressed the Stop for School Bus, Fasten Safety Belts, and Right Lane Ends sign A total of 1,344 passenger car drivers took part in the survey The truck driver survey addressed the Weigh Station, Weight Limit, Load Zoned Bridge, and Hazardous Cargo signs, plus the sign shape/color code Spanish-language alternative legends were developed for each of the word message signs A total of 525 truck drivers took part in the survey The results indicated that, in general, the overall comprehension levels for the selected word message signs were improved in the Texas border area through the use of Spanish-legend signs The research recommends specific Spanish-legend signs that can be used to supplement the Fasten Safety Belts, Right Lane Ends, Weigh Station, Weight Limit, and Load Zoned Bridge signs

Dale L. Picha

Papers

Driver Perception-Brake Response in Stopping Sight Distance Situations

Driver understanding of alternative traffic signs

Mexican driver comprehension of u.s. traffic control devices

Evaluation of Alternative Traffic Signs for Use in Texas Border Areas