School of Highway, Chang'an University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, Peoples R China.
Chang'an University Journal Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, Peoples R China.
PLoS One. 2022 May 4;17(5):e0267250. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267250. eCollection 2022.
Owing to the complicated geometric conditions and increasingly diversified driving environment, freeway curves have become a road section with frequent serious accidents. To ensure safe driving on curves, drivers must first perceive the movement condition and the vehicle's position, and accurately evaluate the characteristics of the road to make the right speed choice. In this process, the perception of speed plays a crucial role. The present study aims to investigate the driver's speed perception characteristics with respect to freeway curves to better understand the driver speed selection mechanism. We first construct six three-dimensional (3D) virtual highway models, which are consistent with the geometric lines and traffic engineering instruments of real freeways. A virtual simulation test is then conducted in a highly immersive environment. After the completion of the simulation experiment, we conduct a field verification experiment, test the actual driving speed and perceived speed of drivers in the same place as the simulation experiment, and verify the effectiveness of the simulation method. Finally, 25 3D curve models of four different types are constructed, and the influence of curve characteristics (e.g., curve radius, curve combination, tangent length between curves) on drivers' speed perception accuracy are tested on the simulation platform. The results show that the driver's perceived speed is lower than the real speed when driving on curves, and the tangent-to-spiral (TS) point is the section where the driver's speed is most underestimated. Radius was the most important factor affecting driver's speed perception, but the tangent length between curves also had a lesser influence. However, the curve combination had no effect on it. Our findings can help researchers and road designers understand the reasons for drivers' speed choice, thus promoting drivers' safety on freeway curves.
由于复杂的几何条件和日益多样化的驾驶环境，高速公路曲线段已成为严重事故频发的路段。为了确保在曲线段安全驾驶，驾驶员必须首先感知车辆的运动状态和位置，并准确评估道路特征，以便做出正确的速度选择。在这个过程中，速度感知起着至关重要的作用。本研究旨在调查驾驶员在高速公路曲线上的速度感知特征，以更好地理解驾驶员的速度选择机制。我们首先构建了六个与真实高速公路的几何线条和交通工程仪器一致的三维（3D）虚拟高速公路模型。然后在高度沉浸式环境中进行虚拟仿真测试。在仿真实验完成后，我们进行了现场验证实验，测试了驾驶员在与仿真实验相同地点的实际驾驶速度和感知速度，并验证了仿真方法的有效性。最后，我们构建了 25 个四种不同类型的 3D 曲线模型，并在仿真平台上测试了曲线特征（如曲线半径、曲线组合、曲线间切线长度）对驾驶员速度感知准确性的影响。结果表明，驾驶员在曲线段行驶时感知的速度低于实际速度，并且在 TS 点（切线到螺旋）处，驾驶员对速度的低估最为严重。半径是影响驾驶员速度感知的最重要因素，但曲线间切线长度也有一定影响。然而，曲线组合对其没有影响。我们的研究结果可以帮助研究人员和道路设计师了解驾驶员速度选择的原因，从而提高驾驶员在高速公路曲线上的安全性。
