Safety Impact of Connected Vehicles on Driver Behavior in Rural Work Zones under Foggy Weather Conditions

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110491
Author(s):  
Eric Adomah ◽  
Arash Khoda Bakhshi ◽  
Mohamed M. Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
Driver Behavior ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Community Safety ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Connected Vehicle ◽  
Time To Collision

Work zone safety is one of the paramount goals of the safety community. Safety in WZs is a particular concern under foggy conditions as they represent an exogenous factor contributing to high variability in driver behavior. In line with the Connected Vehicle (CV) Pilot Deployment Program on Interstate-80 (I-80) in Wyoming, this study investigates the safety benefits of CV Work Zone Warning (WZW) applications on driver behavior during foggy weather conditions. A work zone (WZ) was simulated using VISSIM in four sequential areas, including the advance warning, transition, activity, and termination area. The effect of drivers’ increased situational awareness under the effect of WZW was calibrated in VISSIM based on the results of a high-fidelity driving simulator experiment. Various Surrogate Measures of Safety (SMoS), including Time-To-Collision (TTC), Time Exposed Time-to-collision (TET), Time-Integrated Time-to-collision (TIT), and Modified Deceleration Rate to Avoid Crash (MDRAC), were employed to quantify the safety performance of CVs under varying CV Market Penetration Rates (MPRs). According to the results of TTC and MDRAC, it was found that an increase in CV-MPR enhances the safety performance of the WZ area. Findings showed that, under foggy weather conditions, the advance warning area had the highest TIT and TET values. Furthermore, it was revealed that an increase in MPR of up to 60% on I-80 would reduce mean speeds and the standard deviation of speed at each of the WZ areas, leading to more speed harmonization and minimizing the crash risk in WZs.

Safety Performance Assessment of Connected Vehicles in Mitigating the Risk of Secondary Crashes: A Driving Simulator Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110278
Author(s):  
Sherif M. Gaweesh ◽  
Arash Khoda Bakhshi ◽  
Mohamed M. Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Operating Speed ◽  
Connected Vehicle ◽  
The Road ◽  
Adverse Weather Conditions ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
Traffic Volumes ◽  
Secondary Crashes

Traffic crashes can be divided into primary and secondary crashes. Secondary crashes occur as a consequence of primary crashes within their spatiotemporal distances. Secondary crashes comprise nearly 20% of all crashes and 18% of fatal crashes, in which they can possibly have a higher crash severity than the primary crash. Interstate-80 in Wyoming is a major rural corridor with a high freight traffic volumes. The Federal Highway Administration selected Wyoming in which to deploy connected vehicle (CV) technology with a focus on commercial truck safety. Distress and rerouting applications were among the suite of CV pilot applications. Very few studies have investigated the safety performance of CVs in mitigating the risk of secondary crashes on heavy trucks, more specifically under adverse weather conditions. This study filled this gap by conducting a driving simulator experiment to assess the effectiveness of CV distress and rerouting applications in mitigating the effects of secondary crashes. A total of 23 truck drivers were recruited to this study. The analysis was conducted on the vehicle kinematics obtained from the driving simulator. A CV and a nonCV scenario were designed to compare the participants’ driving behavior under adverse weather conditions. The results showed that the tested CV applications succeeded in enhancing driving behaviors by reducing the operating speed as well as the speed variation, and all the participants avoided a secondary crash in the CV environment. In addition, the distress notification coupled with the road closure reduced the average operating speed by 26% from the provided speed limit.

scholarly journals Risk Factors in Work Zone Safety Events: A Naturalistic Driving Study Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (1) ◽  
pp. 379-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nipjyoti Bharadwaj ◽  
Praveen Edara ◽  
Carlos Sun
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Driver Behavior ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Work Zone Safety ◽  
Naturalistic Driving Study ◽  
Naturalistic Driving ◽  
The Impact

Identification of crash risk factors and enhancing safety at work zones is a major priority for transportation agencies. There is a critical need for collecting comprehensive data related to work zone safety. The naturalistic driving study (NDS) data offers a rare opportunity for a first-hand view of crashes and near-crashes (CNC) that occur in and around work zones. NDS includes information related to driver behavior and various non-driving related tasks performed while driving. Thus, the impact of driver behavior on crash risk along with infrastructure and traffic variables can be assessed. This study: (1) investigated risk factors associated with safety critical events occurring in a work zone; (2) developed a binary logistic regression model to estimate crash risk in work zones; and (3) quantified risk for different factors using matched case-control design and odds ratios (OR). The predictive ability of the model was evaluated by developing receiver operating characteristic curves for training and validation datasets. The results indicate that performing a non-driving related secondary task for more than 6 seconds increases the CNC risk by 5.46 times. Driver inattention was found to be the most critical behavioral factor contributing to CNC risk with an odds ratio of 29.06. In addition, traffic conditions corresponding to Level of Service (LOS) D exhibited the highest level of CNC risk in work zones. This study represents one of the first efforts to closely examine work zone events in the Transportation Research Board’s second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) NDS data to better understand factors contributing to increased crash risk in work zones.

Distraction of Connected Vehicle Human–Machine Interface for Truck Drivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (9) ◽  
pp. 438-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangchuan Yang ◽  
Mohamed M. Ahmed ◽  
Biraj Subedi
Keyword(s):  
Human Error ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
Revealed Preference ◽  
Human Machine Interface ◽  
Truck Drivers ◽  
Connected Vehicle ◽  
Cognitive Distraction ◽  
High Workload ◽  
Machine Interface

Connected vehicle (CV) technology aims to improve drivers’ situational awareness through audible and visual warnings, commonly displayed on a human–machine interface (HMI), thus reducing the likelihood of crashes caused by human error. Nevertheless, the presence of an in-vehicle CV HMI may pose an increasing threat to driver distraction, particularly for truck drivers and under high workload driving conditions. With this concern, this research investigated the effects of a HMI developed by the Wyoming Department of Transportation CV Pilot on truck drivers’ cognitive distraction and driving behavior through a driving simulator experiment. Revealed preference survey and vehicle dynamics data were employed to assess the cognitive distractions of the Pilot’s HMI. Simulation results indicated that when CV warnings were displayed on the HMI, they did not introduce significant effects on participants’ longitudinal and lateral control of the vehicle. Nevertheless, from the revealed preference survey, it was found that approximately 27% of the participants indicated that the CV HMI tended to introduce additional visual workload for them, particularly when approaching an active freeway work zone under reduced visibility condition. In this regard, this research pointed out that the design of CV warnings and HMI displays needs to incorporate drivers’ ability to recognize and react safely to the received CV warnings to minimize the cognitive distractions introduced by the CV HMI.

Impact of Variable Speed Limit in a Connected Vehicle Environment on Truck Driver Behavior under Adverse Weather Conditions: Driving Simulator Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (7) ◽  
pp. 132-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangchuan Yang ◽  
Mohamed M. Ahmed ◽  
Sherif Gaweesh
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Truck Drivers ◽  
Connected Vehicle ◽  
Variable Speed ◽  
Variable Speed Limit ◽  
Adverse Weather Conditions ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
Advisory Speed ◽  
The Impact

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) selected Wyoming as one of three sites to develop, test, and deploy a suite of connected vehicle (CV) applications on a 402-mi Interstate 80 corridor. One of the Wyoming’s key CV applications is the variable speed limit (VSL) warning, which aimed to provide commercial truck drivers with real-time regulatory and advisory speed limits to help in better managing speeds under adverse weather conditions, and reducing potential speed variances that may cause traffic collisions. This paper developed a driving simulator testbed to assess the impact of the Wyoming’s CV-based VSL (CV-VSL) application on truck drivers’ behavior under adverse weather conditions. A total of 18 professional truck drivers were recruited to participate in the driving simulator experiment. Participants’ instantaneous speeds at various locations were collected to reveal the impact of the CV-VSL warnings on their driving behavior. Simulation results showed that when the advisory speed limits were lower than 55 mph, participants generally followed the VSLs displayed on the CV human–machine interface (HMI). In addition, traffic flows utilizing CV-VSL technology tend to exhibit lower average speeds and speed variances compared with baseline scenarios. These effects of CV-VSL warnings can bring potential safety benefits, as reduction in average speeds and speed variances are effective surrogate measures of safety, that is, lower risk of crashes, under adverse weather conditions.

Evaluating the Effects of Connected Vehicle Weather and Work Zone Warnings on Truck Drivers’ Workload and Distraction using Eye Glance Behavior

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-304
Author(s):  
Omar Raddaoui ◽  
Mohamed M. Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Time Window ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Truck Drivers ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Connected Vehicle ◽  
Driver Assistance Systems ◽  
Weather Impact ◽  
Short Time Window ◽  
Scanning Behavior

This study acts in support of the Wyoming Department of Transport (WYDOT) connected vehicle pilot efforts in the deployment of effective, safe, and user-centered connected vehicle (CV) applications and human machine interface (HMI) displays. This study sought to quantify the workload demands and distraction introduced by the pilot’s spot weather impact warning (SWIW) and work zone warning (WZW) applications on professional truck drivers. Using driving simulator experimentation and eye-tracking technology, the effects of exposure to the CV warnings on the participants’ glance behavior were quantified. The study revealed that the weather notifications did not invoke any notable workload or distraction to the participants. Conversely, the WZWs deteriorated the participants’ roadway scanning behavior and brought about prolonged off-road glances, and therefore could carry adverse safety impacts to drivers in real-life conditions. This was largely attributed to the fact that, unlike the weather notifications, the WZW application appeared to have over-communicated information to the participants during a short time window and under difficult driving conditions and resulted in a relatively cluttered HMI. In light of these findings, WYDOT, the leading pilot stakeholder, is amending the design of the WZW application in such a way that message flow rate is reduced and only necessary information is displayed. All in all, the methodology applied in this study was effective in uncovering the overall effects of exposure to CV warnings and therefore could be useful for evaluating workload and distraction in the context of emergent advanced driver assistance systems.

scholarly journals Human Performance in Critical Scenarios as a Benchmark for Highly Automated Vehicles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Quante ◽  
Meng Zhang ◽  
Katharina Preuk ◽  
Caroline Schießl
Keyword(s):  
Inflection Point ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Avoidance Performance ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Regression Curve ◽  
Automated Vehicles ◽  
Time To Collision ◽  
Simulator Study ◽  
Method Of Constant Stimuli

AbstractBefore highly automated vehicles (HAVs) become part of everyday traffic, their safety has to be proven. The use of human performance as a benchmark represents a promising approach, but appropriate methods to quantify and compare human and HAV performance are rare. By adapting the method of constant stimuli, a scenario-based approach to quantify the limit of (human) performance is developed. The method is applied to a driving simulator study, in which participants are repeatedly confronted with a cut-in manoeuvre on a highway. By systematically manipulating the criticality of the manoeuvre in terms of time to collision, humans’ collision avoidance performance is measured. The limit of human performance is then identified by means of logistic regression. The calculated regression curve and its inflection point can be used for direct comparison of human and HAV performance. Accordingly, the presented approach represents one means by which HAVs’ safety performance could be proven.

scholarly journals Safety effects of work zone advisory systems under the intelligent connected vehicle environment: a microsimulation approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suyi Mao ◽  
Guiming Xiao ◽  
Jaeyoung Lee ◽  
Ling Wang ◽  
Zijin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Connected Vehicle ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Real ◽  
Traditional System ◽  
Traffic Conditions ◽  
Advisory Systems

Purpose This study aims to investigate the safety effects of work zone advisory systems. The traditional system includes a dynamic message sign (DMS), whereas the advanced system includes an in-vehicle work zone warning application under the connected vehicle (CV) environment. Design/methodology/approach A comparative analysis was conducted based on the microsimulation experiments. Findings The results indicate that the CV-based warning system outperforms the DMS. From this study, the optimal distances of placing a DMS varies according to different traffic conditions. Nevertheless, negative influence of excessive distance DMS placed from the work zone would be more obvious when there is heavier traffic volume. Thus, it is recommended that the optimal distance DMS placed from the work zone should be shortened if there is a traffic congestion. It was also revealed that higher market penetration rate of CVs will lead to safer network under good traffic conditions. Research limitations/implications Because this study used only microsimulation, the results do not reflect the real-world drivers’ reactions to DMS and CV warning messages. A series of driving simulator experiments need to be conducted to capture the real driving behaviors so as to investigate the unresolved-related issues. Human machine interface needs be used to simulate the process of in-vehicle warning information delivery. The validation of the simulation model was not conducted because of the data limitation. Practical implications It suggests for the optimal DMS placement for improving the overall efficiency and safety under the CV environment. Originality/value A traffic network evaluation method considering both efficiency and safety is proposed by applying traffic simulation.

A Simulator Evaluation of Advance Flagger Signs

1993 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
pp. 602-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Alicandri ◽  
Jonathan Walker
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Driver Behavior ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Highway Signs ◽  
Construction Zones

An interactive driving simulator was used to compare two versions of a construction and maintenance advance flagger sign, designed to alert motorists to the presence of a flagger in a work zone ahead. The standard symbol is a silhouetted figure holding a flag, the revised symbol is a silhouetted figure holding an octagonal paddle. Forty subjects participated in a simulated drive in which one of the two signs was encountered, along with a variety of other highway signs. The study found no significant differences between the two signs in terms of driver behavior in the presence of the signs. A post-drive questionnaire showed significant advantages for the standard sign. Drivers exposed to the standard sign had significantly better recall of which sign they had encountered. Measures of sign comprehension, both in terms of meaning and required actions also showed the superiority of the standard sign. Subjects were more likely to correctly identify the standard sign as appearing in construction zones, and the standard sign was more preferred than the revised sign.

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