Analysing and modelling of discretionary lane change duration considering driver heterogeneity

This paper aims to investigate the characteristics of discretionary lane change (LC) duration on freeways based on an enriched dataset that contains the LC vehicle trajectories of 2905 passenger cars and 433 heavy vehicles. The LC duration is comprehensively analysed, and four stochastic LC duration models are established according to vehicle type and LC direction. LC duration varies with vehicle type and LC direction. Considering driver heterogeneity, accelerated failure time (AFT) models with fixed parameters, latent classes, and random parameters were established in this paper. The results show that drivers of heavy vehicles display greater heterogeneity and that vehicle types and LC directions have significant influence on the LC duration. The results of this study are helpful for understanding the mechanism of the LC process and the influence of LC on traffic flow and improving the safety of lane-changing behaviours of connected and autonomous vehicles.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the characteristics of discretionary lane change duration on freeways and establishes four stochastic lane change duration models based on vehicle type and lane change direction. The results show that driver heterogeneity, vehicle type, and lane change direction significantly influence the duration of lane change. The findings of this study are helpful for understanding the mechanism of lane change process, the impact of lane change on traffic flow, and improving the safety of lane-changing behaviors of connected and autonomous vehicles.