Driving Simulation Study on Real-time Traffic Conflict Risk Warning Systems in China Finds up to 72.5 Percent Reduction in Maximum Braking
A Total of 38 Experienced Drivers in China Attended Driving Simulation to Evaluate the Effect of Real-time Traffic Conflict Warning Systems
Kunming
Effectiveness and Optimal Location of Real-Time Traffic Conflict Risk Warning System for Rural Unsignalized Intersections: A Driving Simulation Study
Summary Information
The Real-time Traffic Conflict Risk Warning System (RTCRWS) offers a proactive crash prevention strategy for rural unsignalized intersections and has been implemented in Yunnan Province, China. This innovative technology aims to provide real-time traffic conflict risk warnings. The physical model of the RTCRWS consists of a solar charging panel, an LED display screen, a post, and an integrated chassis housing key components such as a controller, communication module, sensor, and battery pack. To evaluate the effectiveness of the RTCRWS at various locations, a driving simulation experiment was conducted with 38 participants from Kunming, China.
METHODOLOGY
In this study, four types of the RTCRWS installation location schemes were designed: Scheme 1 (no installation), Schemes 2 through 4 (RTCRWS installed 50 m/100 m/ 150 m in advance of the unsignalized intersection). The entropy-fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model was used to evaluate the effectiveness and optimal location of RTCRWS, based on the principle of fuzzy synthesis and membership degree to describe fuzzy boundaries. The warning strategy of the RTCRWS involved two scenarios; one where a vehicle is approaching from the lateral direction, and another one where no vehicle is approaching from the lateral direction. Scheme 1, as the control group and with no RTCRWS installed at the intersection, allowed a conflict between the test vehicle entering the unsignalized intersection from south to north, and the vehicles coming in the lateral directions. In Schemes 2 through 4, with RTCRWS installed at 50 m, 100 m, and 150 m ahead of the intersection in the driving direction of the test vehicle, the driver is warned that there is a vehicle approaching from the lateral direction and needs to slow down.
FINDINGS
- The results showed that, comparing the case with no RTCRWS installation versus the case where RTCRWS is installed 150 m away from the intersection, the braking intensity required to be exerted by the driver in order to slow down, as measured by the brake pedal depression in millimeters, decreased by 72.5 percent, indicating that the location scheme with the RTCRWS being 150 m ahead of the intersection is the most effective to minimize the braking effort for the drivers.
- The results indicated a 22.2 percent reduction in speed variation coefficients when comparing scenarios without the RTCRWS to those with the system installed 100 meters from the intersection. This suggests that placing the RTCRWS 100 meters from the intersection is the most effective in minimizing speed variations.
