Human factors in the moving merge process

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate the importance of some independent environmental variables in the moving merge process utilizing human factors as indices of driver comfort in such a dynamic situation. The stress producing situation chosen for the evaluation of the sensation of "well being" in an automobile driver was the routine urban task of entering a freeway. A technique of this type could serve as a design tool for the traffic engineer in the modification of present facilities and the design of future roadways. Six variables were investigated as to their importance in a moving merge operation. They were 1) ramp approach speed, 2) velocity on the freeway, 3) backsight available to the driver, 4) advice to the ramp driver as to the velocity on the freeway, 5) posted speed limits on frontage road and freeway and 6) the driver. An experimental design involving these elements was composed using the random balance design technique. The formulated design was such that each factor could be studied individually in order to be able to evaluate the capability of each index to differentiate between conditional levels of the variables. ...