Drivers decision model at an onset of amber period at signalised intersections

Abstract

Driving is a complex task and, probably, the most dangerous activity on roadways because it involves instantaneous decision making by drivers. A traffic signal–controlled intersection is one of road facilities which require drivers to make an instantaneous decision at the onset of amber period. This paper describes the application of a regression approach to evaluate the factors that influence the decision made by a driver whether to proceed or to stop at the stop line at the onset of amber period at signalised intersections. More than 2,700 drivers approaching the stop–line at the onset of amber period at six intersections installed with a fixed–time traffic signal–control system were observed. Two video cameras were used to record the movements of vehicles approaching the intersection from a distance of about 150 metres. The data was abstracted from the video recordings using a computer event recorder program. The parameters considered in the analysis include vehicles’ approaching speed, distance from the stop line at the onset of amber, the position in the platoon as well as the types of vehicles driven. The result of the analysis shows that about 13.43% of the drivers tend to accelerate to clear the intersection at the onset of amber period and about 26.32% of the drivers ended up with running the red light. A binary logistic model to explain the possible decision made by a driver for a given set of conditions was developed. The analysis shows that the probability of drivers’ decision either to stop or proceed at an onset of amber period is influenced by his/her distance from the stop line and his/her position in the platoon.