Multiple-vehicle collision influenced by misjudgment of space headway in traffic flow under fog weather condition

Abstract

The multiple-vehicle collision easily happens under fog weather condition. To illustrate the effect of misjudgment of space headway on the multiple-vehicle collision in traffic flow, this paper derives collision criterion of the car-following model including risk illusions in fog weather (RIFM). Numerical simulations are carried out by varying driver’s sensitivity, vehicular density and initial velocity. This paper obtains the region map for the multiple-vehicle collision when a vehicle stops suddenly in traffic flow. The results indicate that although under low density conditions, the collision will happen just because of the misjudgment of space headway. In general, when drivers are affected by the misjudgment of space headway, the number of crumpled vehicles has positive correlation with initial velocity and vehicular density, and negative correlation with driver’s sensitivity. Therefore, in order to ensure traffic safety, the initial velocity and vehicular density should be reduced, and driver’s sensitivity should be increased under fog weather condition.