Driver's gap acceptance on lane-changing behaviors for overtaking in mixed traffic with autonomous vehicles

초록

Roadway collisions during overtaking are primarily caused by a failure to maintain a safe gap, which substantially influenced by several factors. Further, the gap acceptance when overtaking may change in mixed traffic that includes autonomous vehicles (AVs). Our study determined the effects of the presence of AVs on human drivers' gap acceptance when changing lanes for overtaking. The gap acceptance was measured by the time gap at the start (start time gap) and the end of overtaking (end time gap), and by considering three factors: the types of preceding and following vehicles, and the time gaps between these vehicles. These three factors were designed using a driving simulator that simulates an expressway environment where frequent overtaking maneuvers occur in two situations: without and with a following vehicle in the target lane (i.e., interacting with one or two vehicles, respectively). Using experimental data from 25 young adults, the findings revealed that the presence of AVs might significantly affect human drivers' gap acceptance at the start of overtaking depending on their expectations of AVs in two situations. Without a following vehicle in the target lane, a preceding AV reduced the start time gap acceptance, suggesting drivers expect it behaves consistently. In contrast, the start time gap acceptance increased when overtaking with a following AV in the target lane, implying driver's expectation of superior predictability. This research reveals the high degree to which human drivers' take advantage of AV technology based on their implicit expectations, which may in turn influence traffic safety. © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

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