Location-based analysis of car-following behavior during braking using naturalistic driving data

Abstract

This study investigates the car-following behavior during braking at intersections and segments. Car-following events were extracted from a naturalistic driving dataset, mapped using ArcGIS, and analyzed to differentiate between the intersection- and segment-related events. The intersection-related events were identified according to an intersection influence area, which was estimated based on the stopping sight distance and the speed limit. Five behavioral measures were quantified based on exploring the probability density functions (PDF) for intersection- and segment-related events. The results showed that there were significant differences between the PDFs of the measures for both cases. Moreover, it was indicated that drivers tend to be more aggressive at intersections compared with segments. Thus, it is crucial to consider the driver’s location when investigating driver behavior. The quantified behavioral measures are a rich data source that can be used for car-following microscopic modeling, surrogate safety analysis, and driver assistance systems development.