Development and evaluation of a microscopic overtaking gap acceptance model for two-lane highways

A microscopic gap acceptance model is presented that simulates overtaking behavior on two-lane highways. The decision to initiate overtaking is expressed as a function of each driver's perception of the expected time-to- collision (TTC) with the nearest opposing vehicle at the end of maneuver. The available gap is accepted if the driver's perception of TTC exceeds a predetermined threshold for safe return (critical TTC). The gap acceptance model is calibrated and validated based on overtaking video-recording data for a two-lane highway. The overtaking gap acceptance model is then compared, for consistency and transferability, with independent aggregate field data, as well as with two other simulation models and values given in the Highway Capacity Manual for similar two-lane highways. The gap acceptance simulation demonstrated that the proposed overtaking model is able to provide reliable measures of traffic attributes for two-lane highway operation, as verified experimentally. Key words: two-lane highways, overtaking, gap acceptance. Dans le cadre de cette etude, on presente un modele microscopique d'acceptation d'espacement qui simule le comportement de depassement sur les routes a deux voies. La decision d'entreprendre un depassement est exprimee en fonction de la perception de chaque conducteur du temps avant une collision (TAC) avec le vehicule oppose le plus pres, et ce, a la fin de la manoeuvre. L'espacement disponible est accepte si la perception qu'a le conducteur du TAC excede un seuil preetabli du retour sans accident (TAC critique). On calibre et valide le modele d'acceptation de l'espacement en fonction des donnees d'enregistrement video de depassements sur une route a deux voies. On compare ensuite le modele d'acceptation d'espacement de depassement, aux fins de coherence et de transferabilite, aux donnees de terrain independantes et globales, ainsi qu'a deux autres modeles de simulation et aux valeurs fournies dans le 'Highway Capacity Manual' en rapport avec des routes a deux voies semblables. La simulation d'acceptation d'espacement a demontre que le modele de depassement propose peut fournir des mesures fiables des attributs de la circulation aux fins de l'exploitation par voie sur les routes a deux voies, tel que verifie experimentalement. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: routes a deux voies, depassement, acceptation d'espacement.
Introduction In recent years, microscopic simulation models have gained increased acceptance as reliable investigative tools for understanding traffic operations and evaluating safety performance. Despite this trend, the development and application [...]