A Review of Near-Collision Driver Behavior Models

Markkula, Gustav; Benderius, Ola; Wolff, Krister; Wahde, Mattias · 2012 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1177/0018720812448474

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Summary

This paper reviews quantitative models of driver behavior specifically designed for simulating near-collision scenarios on public roads. The research is motivated by the growing reliance on computer simulations in traffic safety research and industry to evaluate infrastructure improvements and collision avoidance systems. However, the validity of these simulations depends entirely on the accuracy of the underlying driver behavior models. The authors aim to provide a comprehensive overview of simulation-ready models that capture how drivers react to imminent crash risks, addressing a gap left by previous reviews that focused on general driving or qualitative descriptions. The authors employed a systematic literature search to identify relevant scientific papers published from 2000 onward. Inclusion criteria required that models be capable of controlling simulated vehicles laterally or longitudinally based on traffic inputs and that they address on-road collision situations. The review categorizes the identified models into a taxonomy based on their primary avoidance mechanism: braking alone, steering alone, combined braking and steering, the influence of driver states and characteristics, and simulation platforms. To validate the review’s findings, the authors implemented and tested several selected models in specific collision scenarios, such as lead vehicle deceleration and stationary obstacles. The review highlights that while numerous models exist, the field is fragmented. A significant portion of the literature focuses on car-following models, such as the Gazis-Herman-Rothery (GHR) model and its variants, which often assume long-distance reactions to obstacles. The authors note that basic versions of these models can produce unrealistic behaviors, such as vehicle overlap or oscillations, unless modified to include error-inducing behaviors or satisficing principles. The paper also discusses theoretical frameworks for accident causation, such as the "proactive" and "reactive" barriers, which explain how drivers transition from normal driving to critical avoidance maneuvers. Empirical evidence suggests that braking is the most common initial response, while steering is often underutilized due to drivers' limited experience with high lateral accelerations. The study concludes that although many near-collision models have been proposed, validation against human driving data remains limited. Simulation-based comparisons suggest that different models may exhibit more similarity in behavior than their mathematical formulations imply. The authors recommend further comparative analysis to improve model validity. This review serves as a critical resource for researchers developing traffic safety simulations, offering a structured overview of existing models and identifying suitable starting points for future work in modeling on-road collision avoidance.

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Topics

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

• naturalistic crash near crash
• situational awareness
• mental model of traffic
• crash reconstruction hf
• driver post crash behavior

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes
• Theoretical Contribution: computational model, theory or model