Effects of Individual Differences on Driving Behavior and Traffic Flow Characteristics

Abstract

Studying driving behavior has been considered an important approach to identifying solutions to increase roadway level of service, reduce roadway traffic crashes, improve vehicle designs, and develop in-vehicle safety devices. The purpose of this research was to get insight into the effect of individual differences on driving behavior and traffic flow characteristics. A method of integrating driving simulators and traffic simulation was developed to investigate the effects of driving behavior on traffic flow. First, a cluster analysis was performed to classify drivers into three categories: aggressive, conservative, and moderate. Second, the driving behavior parameters of the three types of drivers were calibrated for traffic simulation models using the experimental data collected in a driving simulator. Then the effects of driving behavior on traffic flow were analyzed by traffic simulation techniques. The results show that the roadways with aggressive drivers have the highest flow rate but least traffic flow stability. Hence, to maintain roadway level of service and improve traffic safety, it is necessary to develop public training and education campaigns to reach out to aggressive drivers.