How Motorists and Cyclists Communicate in Intersections: Insights from Simulation and Real Trajectories

Kurzfassung

Communication between road users is an essential part of road traffic. Particularly, in intersections, road users need to understand the intention of other road users and to show their intention. Communication with vulnerable road users (VRUs) is one of the greatest challenges in the development of automated driving functions (ADF), since both may communicate in an implicit way by using dynamic information, such as speed, distance, etc. Identification of patterns of implicit communication between human drivers and VRUs in intersections may help ADF to accomplish a human-like communication with VRUs. For this purpose, we investegated the interaction between right-turning motorists and crossing cyclists by conducting a vehicle/bicycle simulator study and analyzing trajectory data recorded from the Application Platform for Intelligent Mobility (AIM) Research Intersection. Three common communication patterns between motorists and cyclists were identified: (1) the motorist was first behind the cyclist and then crossed the intersection before the cyclist; (2) the motorist was first behind the cyclist, then in front of the cyclist, and at the end crossed the intersection after the cyclist; (3) the cyclist was always in front of the motorist. Additionally, differences between the three communication patterns with respect to speed and time advantage were found. The findings of this study may optimize the implementation of communication strategies for ADF, contributing to traffic efficiency as well as ensuring safety in the interaction with VRUs.