Analytical study of the lane-by-lane variation for lane-utility and traffic safety performance assessment using NGSIM data

Abstract

Highlights the shortcoming of using aggregate data as a whole with the assumption of similar lane-use-pattern over lanes, traffic variations are attentively investigated to explore traffic dynamics distribution both in lane-utility in efficiency and safety performance lane-by-lane. In this paper, above two dimensions are examined for each of five mainline lanes on Highway 101 in Angeles using Next Generation Simulation (NGSIM) data. The lane-specific data is statistically processed to reflect lane utility in lane flow parameters along the location and identify Lane Risk Coefficient by verifying degree of consistence vehicles operation with 'Assured Clear Distance Ahead' criterion. It appears completely new that the most-middle lanes are similar utilized under congested conditions compared to two sides of the lanes, as well as the quite close values of LRC to reveals an uniformly safety level between Lane 2 and Lane 3. The findings of this study are intended to be relevant with the calibration of microscopic simulation models and suggest implementing a proper variable speed towar d under-utilized shoulder Lane 5 but with worst safety performance.