{"title":"A perspective from competitive-cooperative driving modes: Identification of vehicle merging behavior models and crash risk factors in merge zone","authors":"Nengchao Lyu , Siqi Feng , Hongliang Wan","doi":"10.1016/j.aap.2025.108153","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In highway and expressway merge zones, merge behavior is the most fundamental maneuvering behavior and is a major cause of traffic conflicts and collisions. While some studies have employed vehicle trajectory data to simulate and investigate microscopic merge behavior, most have failed to consider the interaction between vehicles and have not fully investigated the factors that influence merge risk using vehicle trajectory data. This study considers the interactions between vehicles during the merging process and, based on a “competitive-cooperative” driving mode perspective, proposes a new method for classifying vehicle merging behavior modes in merging zones. It also explores the differences in risk levels and influencing factors between different merging modes. Using aerial-captured merging vehicle trajectory data, and based on previous research and actual observations, merging behaviors are classified into free, homeostatic, competitive, and cooperative modes (FM, HM, CmM, and CoM) according to the gap distance and microscopic interaction between vehicles before and after merging. The lane change risk index (LCRI) is introduced as an alternative safety measure to assess the risk of merging vehicle groups. The k-means algorithm is used to classify the LCRI, and a separate ordered logit model is constructed for each merging behavior mode. The modeling results indicate that classification modeling performs better than all data modeling, and the risk level of merging vehicle groups is closely related to the motion state of the merge vehicle, the average and standard deviation of the longitudinal speed difference between vehicles, and the gap distance between vehicles. The risk levels of the four merging modes and their influencing factors differ, with FM having the lowest risk, followed by CoM, HM having a higher risk, and CmM having the highest risk. The study results provide an in-depth analysis of merge zone risk factors, offering a theoretical basis for improving traffic safety management measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":6926,"journal":{"name":"Accident; analysis and prevention","volume":"220 ","pages":"Article 108153"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Accident; analysis and prevention","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457525002398","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ERGONOMICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
In highway and expressway merge zones, merge behavior is the most fundamental maneuvering behavior and is a major cause of traffic conflicts and collisions. While some studies have employed vehicle trajectory data to simulate and investigate microscopic merge behavior, most have failed to consider the interaction between vehicles and have not fully investigated the factors that influence merge risk using vehicle trajectory data. This study considers the interactions between vehicles during the merging process and, based on a “competitive-cooperative” driving mode perspective, proposes a new method for classifying vehicle merging behavior modes in merging zones. It also explores the differences in risk levels and influencing factors between different merging modes. Using aerial-captured merging vehicle trajectory data, and based on previous research and actual observations, merging behaviors are classified into free, homeostatic, competitive, and cooperative modes (FM, HM, CmM, and CoM) according to the gap distance and microscopic interaction between vehicles before and after merging. The lane change risk index (LCRI) is introduced as an alternative safety measure to assess the risk of merging vehicle groups. The k-means algorithm is used to classify the LCRI, and a separate ordered logit model is constructed for each merging behavior mode. The modeling results indicate that classification modeling performs better than all data modeling, and the risk level of merging vehicle groups is closely related to the motion state of the merge vehicle, the average and standard deviation of the longitudinal speed difference between vehicles, and the gap distance between vehicles. The risk levels of the four merging modes and their influencing factors differ, with FM having the lowest risk, followed by CoM, HM having a higher risk, and CmM having the highest risk. The study results provide an in-depth analysis of merge zone risk factors, offering a theoretical basis for improving traffic safety management measures.
期刊介绍:
Accident Analysis & Prevention provides wide coverage of the general areas relating to accidental injury and damage, including the pre-injury and immediate post-injury phases. Published papers deal with medical, legal, economic, educational, behavioral, theoretical or empirical aspects of transportation accidents, as well as with accidents at other sites. Selected topics within the scope of the Journal may include: studies of human, environmental and vehicular factors influencing the occurrence, type and severity of accidents and injury; the design, implementation and evaluation of countermeasures; biomechanics of impact and human tolerance limits to injury; modelling and statistical analysis of accident data; policy, planning and decision-making in safety.