Driver Behavior at Freeway-Ramp Merging Areas

Abstract

Driver behavior is an important factor affecting traffic operations, and it accounts to a large extent for the observed variability in roadway performance. Researchers have developed various driver behavior–related models for operational analysis and simulation applications. These models consider drivers’ choices related to gap identification and selection, lane changing, and so on. However, the literature related to drivers’ thinking processes and support for the assumptions used in existing models is scarce. This study conducted three focus groups to investigate drivers’ intended actions along a freeway-ramp merging segment. Several scenarios were discussed in which participants indicated their thinking process and likely actions while merging or traversing a merging segment. The study considers noncongested and congested traffic conditions. It also correlates the drivers’ responses to their individual characteristics.