Citation

Gilandeh SS, Hosseinlou MH, Anarkooli AJ. Safety Sci. 2018; 110: 142-151.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ssci.2018.08.011

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Numerous studies in the literature have established a relationship between driver behavior and roadway characteristics. However, investigating bus driver behavior as a function of roadway features under different lighting conditions has been a missing link. This research aims at investigating the main and interaction effects of three roadway features - shoulder width, guardrail existence, and roadway geometry - on bus driver behavior under daytime and nighttime lighting conditions. In this regard, using driving simulator, 40 professional bus drivers were recruited to drive on 30 different segments, including the combination of 3 shoulder widths, 5 curve radii, and 2 guardrail states, under daylight and dark lighting scenarios. By examining adopted speed and lateral positioning, it was found that bus driver behavior is noticeably affected by guardrail existence on the segments having a narrow shoulder. Interestingly, the results revealed that the presence of guardrail is negatively associated with driving speed on these segments; also, it causes drivers to travel close to the centerline of the road. Regarding the correlation of lighting conditions with driver behavior, it was found that while bus drivers consistently adopt higher speeds in daylight condition, as opposed to darkness, their lateral positioning is not significantly affected by lighting condition. This finding implies that lateral movements can be more attributed to roadway characteristics, rather than visibility of the road. The study suggests that driver behavior in darkness could be associated with contributing factors in different ways, which such differences cannot be uncovered by focusing merely on one aggregate analysis.

Language: en

Keywords

Bus drivers; Driver behavior; Driving simulator; Lighting conditions; Roadway design