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AuthorReinolsmann, Nora
AuthorAlhajyaseen, Wael
AuthorBrijs, Tom
AuthorPirdavani, Ali
AuthorHussain, Qinaat
AuthorBrijs, Kris
Available date2022-10-17T08:25:16Z
Publication Date2021-04
Publication NameTransportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
Identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2021.01.017
CitationReinolsmann, N., Alhajyaseen, W., Brijs, T., Pirdavani, A., Hussain, Q., & Brijs, K. (2021). Investigating the impact of a novel active gap metering signalization strategy on driver behavior at highway merging sections. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour, 78, 42-57.
ISSN13698478
URIhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85101332321&origin=inward
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/35177
AbstractA safe headway to the lead vehicle is important to reduce conflicts with merging vehicles from highway on-ramps. Previous research has outlined the advantage of gap metering strategies to yield sufficient space to merging vehicles and improve highway capacity during peak hours. However, prevailing gap metering systems fail to indicate the minimum required gap and leave it to the drivers’ judgment to adjust their headway. This paper proposes a new Active Gap Metering (AGM) signalization that helps outer lane drivers to adjust their headway to the lead vehicle when approaching highway ramps with incoming vehicles. This AGM signalization represents a combination of pavement markings and an innovative Variable Message Sign (VMS). The AGM system was tested alone and in combination with additional variable speed limits (VSL) in distinct environments of the Doha Expressway in the State of Qatar using a driving simulator. The driving behavior of 64 drivers was analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. The results showed that the AGM effectively influenced the drivers’ behavior on the right stream lane. Drivers did gradually increase the distance to the lead vehicle, which resulted in optimal headways to merging on-ramp vehicles. Most importantly, the minimum time-to-collision (TTCmin) to the merging vehicle was increased by an additional 1–1.5 s as compared to no treatment. The proposed AGM signalization can, therefore, be considered by policymakers to influence drivers’ headways at critical merging sections.
SponsorThe NPRP award [NPRP 9-360-2-150] from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of The Qatar Foundation). Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library.
Languageen
PublisherElsevier Ltd
SubjectDriving simulator
Gap metering
Headway
Merging, lead vehicle
On-ramps
Safety distance
TitleInvestigating the impact of a novel active gap metering signalization strategy on driver behavior at highway merging sections
TypeArticle
Pagination42-57
Volume Number78
dc.accessType Open Access


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