Modeling Left-Turn Driving Behavior at Signalized Intersections with Mixed Traffic Conditions

Abstract

In many developing countries, mixed traffic is the most common type of urban transportation; traffic of this type faces many major problems in traffic engineering, such as conflicts, inefficiency, and security issues. This paper focuses on the traffic engineering concerns on the driving behavior of left-turning vehicles caused by different degrees of pedestrian violations. The traffic characteristics of left-turning vehicles and pedestrians in the affected region at a signalized intersection were analyzed and a cellular-automata-based “following-conflict” driving behavior model that mainly addresses four basic behavior modes was proposed to study the conflict and behavior mechanisms of left-turning vehicles by mathematic methodologies. Four basic driving behavior modes were reproduced in computer simulations, and a logit model of the behavior mode choice was also developed to analyze the relative share of each behavior mode. Finally, the microscopic characteristics of driving behaviors and the macroscopic parameters of traffic flow in the affected region were all determined. These data are important reference for geometry and capacity design for signalized intersections. The simulation results show that the proposed models are valid and can be used to represent the behavior of left-turning vehicles in the case of conflicts with illegally crossing pedestrians. These results will have potential applications on improving traffic safety and traffic capacity at signalized intersections with mixed traffic conditions.

Cellular automata models for signalised and unsignalised intersections with special attention to mixed traffic flow: a review

“…‘Following conflict’ driving behaviour was modelled to study the effect on flow, speed and other parameters of left moving traffic hindered by pedestrians [45]. In this model driving behaviour was converted into a mathematical expression which was taken into the simulation.…”

Cellular Automata Intersection Model

“…Furthermore, drivers who intend to turn left have to ensure that they do not interrupt crossing traffic. In the study of Li et al [2] left turning traffic in an intersection with an arrow traffic signal was analyzed. There it was shown that even when there is no other interaction (no pedestrians or crossing traffic) turning vehicles on average only drive at most v max,turner ≈ 40 km h ≈ 7 Cells time steps .…”

“…Vehicular traffic in urban networks is known to be more complex than highway traffic because of additional influences like traffic lights, stopped vehicles, pedestrians or other influences [1][2][3]. The situation is further complicated by the possibility of vehicles not just to change lanes, accelerate or decelerate, but also turn directions at intersections.…”

Integration of Model‐Based Signal Control and Queue Spillover Control for Urban Oversaturated Signalized Intersection

“…Given different traffic volumes, turning movement changes, and speed limits of the road links, the simulation results which can reflect the performance of signal optimization may be different. Li et al [40] modeled left-turn driving behavior to reveal the impact of different degrees of conflict on the performance of signal optimization under mixed traffic conditions. Considering the study in this paper is based on the assumption that traffic flow merely consists of single-motorized vehicle, the impact of degrees of conflict on signal optimization is neglected.…”