Incorporating Driver Behaviors Into Connected and Automated Vehicle Simulation

Songchitruksa, Praprut; Bibeka, Apoorba; Lin, Lu (Irene); Zhang, Yunlong · 2016 · ROSA P / Center for Advancing Transportation Leadership and Safety (ATLAS Center)

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Summary

This study addresses the challenge of evaluating the benefits of connected vehicle (CV) and automated vehicle (AV) technologies, specifically the lack of simulation platforms capable of modeling the complex interactions between wireless communications, algorithms, and human behaviors. Existing microscopic traffic simulation tools rely on driver behavior models that are insufficient for modern CV/AV applications, as they do not account for behavioral changes ranging from speed adjustments to fully automated control. The research aims to develop a framework for incorporating realistic driver behaviors into microscopic traffic simulations to enable robust evaluation of mobility, safety, and environmental impacts. The researchers utilized VISSIM, a widely used microscopic simulation software, to develop a framework comprising three levels of driver behavior adjustment: event-based, continuous, and semi-automated/automated. Event-based adjustments involve one-time warnings for hazardous events, while continuous adjustments provide ongoing instructions for goals like fuel efficiency. Semi-automated adjustments involve systems like Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC), which take over longitudinal control. To demonstrate the framework, the authors conducted a case study on CACC, also known as platooning, where vehicles maintain tight spacing using wireless connectivity. The simulation modeled customized driver behaviors during platooning, including probabilistic wireless reception, lane-changing logic, and emission calculations based on scaled tractive power and wind drag reduction. The simulation results indicated that lane control policies directing all CVs into a single lane increased flow rates and facilitated the formation of longer platoons. High-quality wireless transmission improved platoon stability and length. Regarding environmental performance, aggressive gap distributions within platoons were found to be favorable for reducing emissions. Specifically, higher reductions in CO2 emissions were observed when dedicated lanes were provided for CVs. The study also analyzed traffic flow performance, safety metrics, and platooning characteristics under various scenarios, demonstrating that the modified driver model successfully captured the operational dynamics of CACC-equipped vehicles. The significance of this work lies in providing a validated platform for assessing the impact of CV/AV technologies on transportation systems. By successfully integrating realistic driver behaviors into VISSIM, the study offers a method for quantifying the benefits of applications like CACC in terms of mobility, safety, and environmental performance. This framework allows transportation professionals to evaluate the effects of varying market penetration rates and policy strategies, such as dedicated lanes, before widespread deployment. The findings support the need for updated simulation tools to accurately predict the stability and capacity of mixed traffic environments containing both human-driven and automated vehicles.

Key finding

Directing connected vehicles into a dedicated lane increased flow rates and platoon length, while high-quality wireless transmission and aggressive gap distributions significantly reduced CO2 emissions.

Methodology

modeling

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• traffic density
• following distance
• situational awareness
• speed choice

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: behavioral performance data
• Methodological Resource: tool software
• Theoretical Contribution: computational model