Study On The Effect Of Countdown Display Unit On Driving Behavior At Signalized Intersection

The countdown display is one of the important equipments in modern traffic light control system. As a warning device, the countdown display was disputed on whether installed to the intersection. Based on the questionnaire and by means of camera, driving behavior affected by using countdown display and not using countdown display at Signalized Intersection was compared in this paper in a driver's view. The paper established a model of drivers'decision-making process at signalized intersection. By means of Logistic model, the paper also established a driver behavior decision model at signalized intersections with countdown display .Sensitivity analysis was made on influenced factors to the models and safeties was analized at this intersections at last chapter.With the increasing number of traffic accidents, traffic safety in our country is not quite optimistic now. In the road system, intersection as the road net node is the most important one to affect the traffic. Therefore, to ensure the intersection safety is a very important task to the traffic management department. To improve the intersection safety and reduce traffic conflict, proper traffic control is needed at the intersection. Furthermore, in order to make the best use of traffic lights, many countries developed a series of traffic light warning devices, such as the countdown display. Thus , it is necessary to take the researches on traffic signal countdown display, and it also will provide some knowledge for the further process in the improvement of intersection using and safety.The effect on the traffic at intersection caused by the traffic signal countdown display is disputed. Some researchers point out that countdown display could help the driver to prepare with his action by giving him some indication. If needed, the driver could keep his engine power off until the countdown display tells him the traffic light is going to turn green, energy sources were saved by this action and the environment pollution was reduced also. But some researchers point out that the using of traffic signal with countdown display has its potential dangers. Many researches on driver behavior, which effect by the yellow light at signal intersection were done, but studies on driver behavior influenced by traffic signal countdown display are still very few. Based on above, we will use six chapters in this paper to describe these techniques from driver behavioral trait and mentality in details and we will introduce each chapter's title and its main content respectively now.Chapter1 the introduction In this chapter we introduce the purpose and significance of the research, and introduce the current research status in domestic and foreign countries, study contents and methods, and so on.Chapter2 the analysis of vehicle running trait at signalized intersection In this chapter we describe the characteristics of driver behavior at intersections. The information processing courses of drivers'and influenced factors to it were analyzed in this chapter.Chapter3 data collecting and analysis of signalized intersections with and without countdown display Based on the questionnaire and by means of camera, data of driving behavior were collected at signalized intersections with and without countdown display. And differences between the behaviors in these two kinds of environments were analyzed in this chapter.Chapter4 the entablish of driver decision-making model at signalized intersections with countdown display In this chapter we establish the model of driver's decision-making process at signalized intersection. By means of Logistic model, the paper also established driver behavior decision models at signalized intersections with countdown display .The influenced factors to the models were analyzed at the end of this chapter.Chapter5 analysis on the drive safety at signalized intersections with countdown display. The safeties at signalized intersections with countdown display were analyzed on dilemma zone and traffic conflicts in this chapter. Chapter6 the conclusion in this chapter we summarize the main research contents and results and also the contents needed to more study.The main results of this article are as follows:1. Based on the conclusion of the main problems of traffic signs setting, this paper advices that the improvement of efficiency of traffic signs should base on the drivers. Using the questionnaire and by means of camera, data of driving behavior were collected at signalized intersections with and without countdown display. And differences between the behaviors in these two kinds of environments were analyzed in this paper.2. The paper analysis the driver's decision-making process at signalized intersection. The influenced factors to drivers'decision-making including driver itself, vehicle, road and environment were summed up according to the analysis of drivers'decision-making process. Then the collectable influenced factors above were analyzed in this paper.3. By means of Logistic model, the paper also established a driver behavior decision model at signalized intersections with countdown display . According to the Parametric tests, the factors"time-code showing on display when vehicle is 20 meters far to the stop line","the time that vehicle running 20 meters to the stop line"are make effect to drivers'decision obviously at a intersection with countdown display,. Sensitivity analysis was made on the first factor, then we get a conclusion that drivers'decision point is when the time is 1 second showing on the display. Similarly, we also establish a behavior decision model at intersection without countdown display.4. According to the analysis on dilemma zone and traffic conflicts, safeties at signalized intersections with countdown display were studied. Comparing with the intersection without countdown display, the setting of countdown display shortens the length of dilemma zone, but makes more traffic conflicts.