A driver perspective-based investigation for lane line visibility of pavements on drivers’ lane utilization behaviors

Aydın, Metin Mutlu; Orhan, Eda · 2024 · Crossref

DOI: 10.4025/actascitechnol.v46i1.66734

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (DOI — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This study investigates the impact of lane line visibility and quality on drivers’ lane utilization behaviors, addressing a critical safety concern in developing countries where poor road markings contribute to traffic accidents and congestion. The research is motivated by the observation that rapid visibility loss of lane markings, often due to low-quality materials and inadequate maintenance, leads to undisciplined driving, such as arbitrary lane selection and reduced traffic flow capacity. The authors aim to quantify this relationship by examining driver lateral positioning relative to lane line quality from both expert and driver perspectives. The methodology involved field observations at 17 selected road sections across three Turkish cities: Antalya, İzmir, and Trabzon. These sites were chosen to represent urban and intercity roads with uninterrupted traffic flow and no significant surface deformations. Researchers collected video data under normal weather conditions, analyzing the lateral positions of 4,090 vehicles using a screen scaling technique to determine the precise location of vehicle wheels and gravity centers. To assess lane line quality, a panel of nine experts scored the visibility of markings on a five-point scale. Additionally, a face-to-face survey was conducted with 390 drivers to evaluate their perception of lane line quality and gather socio-demographic data. Statistical analyses, including Kendall’s W coefficient for expert agreement and distributional analysis of vehicle positions, were employed to correlate marking quality with driving behavior. The results indicate significant variability in lane line quality across the observed sites, with expert scores ranging from a low of 1.22 (at İZ-2) to a high of 4.89 (at TRAB-2). The overall average maximum evaluation score was 4.7, while the lowest was 1.42, highlighting widespread deficiencies in urban and intercity roads. Analysis of vehicle lateral positions revealed that while the overall distribution fit a normal curve, the positions of individual wheels and vehicle gravity centers frequently skewed toward the left or right edges of the lanes, deviating from ideal centered positioning. This deviation suggests that drivers do not maintain strict lane discipline, particularly in areas with low-quality markings. The study confirms that poor lane line visibility correlates with weaker lane utilization discipline, leading to erratic vehicle placement and potential safety hazards. The significance of this research lies in its empirical demonstration of how infrastructure quality directly influences driver behavior. By establishing a link between low lane line visibility and undisciplined lateral positioning, the study underscores the necessity for improved road marking materials and regular maintenance in developing nations. The findings provide a basis for setting threshold values for lane line quality required for effective lane utilization, which is crucial not only for human drivers but also for the future implementation of semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles that rely on clear visual cues. The authors conclude that addressing these visibility issues is essential for enhancing traffic safety, improving flow capacity, and supporting the transition to advanced vehicle technologies.

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed.

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• lane positioning
• perceptual countermeasures
• road geometry