Simulation-Based Analysis of the Effect of Significant Traffic Parameters on Lane Changing for Driving Logic “Cautious” on a Freeway

Abstract

Lane changing of traffic flow is a complicated and significsant behavior for traffic safety on the road. Frequent lane changing can cause serious traffic safety issues, particularly on a two-lane road section of a freeway. This study aimed to analyze the effect of significant traffic parameters for traffic safety on lane change frequency using the studied calibrated values for driving logic “conscious” in VISSIM. Video-recorded traffic data were utilized to calibrate the model under specified traffic conditions, and the relationship between observed variables were estimated using simulation plots. The results revealed that changes in average desired speed and traffic volume had a positive relationship with lane change frequency. In addition, lane change frequency was observed to be higher when the speed distribution was set large. 3D surface plots were also developed to show the integrated effect of specified traffic parameters on lane change frequency. Results showed that high average desired speed and large desired speed distribution coupled with high traffic volume increased the lane change frequency tremendously. The study also attempted to develop a regression model to quantify the effect of the observed parameters on lane change frequency. The regression model results showed that desired speed distribution had the highest effect on lane change frequency compared to other traffic parameters. The findings of the current study highlight the most significant traffic parameters that influence the lane change frequency.