Modelling Merging Behaviour of Drivers in Heterogeneous Traffic at Roundabouts

Abstract

Roundabouts are among the widely used traffic control infrastructures, which function by defining priorities for various entry approaches and circulating traffic. In many developing countries, the priority rules are not implemented through pavement markings or road signs and drivers are also unaware of these rules. Thus, available gaps become the only criteria for merging and movement of vehicles through the roundabout. It has been observed that the gap acceptance behaviour of drivers also depends on the type of vehicle in heterogeneous traffic streams. The main objective of this study is to investigate the difference in gap acceptance behaviour of motorcycle riders and car drivers at roundabouts. The gaps accepted by car drivers and motorcycle riders under different traffic conditions are measured from the recorded video of the traffic stream at a selected roundabout using an unmanned aerial vehicle. The critical gap is estimated using Raff’s method and its relationship with circulatory volume and approach speed is analysed. The results show that the critical gap for motorcycles (2.46 seconds) is 23.3% smaller than the critical gap for cars (3.21 seconds). Motorcycles can move through smaller gaps in comparison with cars due to their size and ease of manoeuvring. Results also show that motorcycles tend to merge with greater approach speed as the available gap within the circulating vehicles reduces, whereas the cars are observed following an opposite trend.