Ruchiga, Maria (Université Gustave Eiffel and Cerema), Sainct, Remi (Gustave Eiffel University), Saint Pierre, Guillaume (Cerema), Gruyer, Dominique (Université Gustave Eiffel)

Should Automated Vehicles Stop at Yellow Lights ? a Study of the Dilemma Zone and Rear-End Collisions

Scheduled for presentation during the Poster Session "Travel Behavior Under ITS" (WeAT16), Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 10:30−12:30, Foyer

2024 IEEE 27th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC), September 24- 27, 2024, Edmonton, Canada

This information is tentative and subject to change. Compiled on December 26, 2024

Abstract

The advent of automated vehicles (AVs) has ushered in a new era of transportation, promising increased safety and efficiency. However, ensuring the robust performance of these vehicles in critical scenarios, particularly in intersection areas, remains a paramount concern.

A key objective of this research is the identification and detection of critical behaviors within intersection areas. Through a combination of parameters distribution, hypothesis, and scenario-based simulations, the study aims to establish the impact behavior differences between AVs and conventional vehicles (CVs) at the yellow light onset have on accident occurrences.

AVs are expected to follow traffic rules more strictly than human drivers do. However, this study shows that abrupt deceleration at yellow lights, while reducing the number of red lights running to almost zero, might increase rear-end collisions by up to 48% and increase crash severity, based on observed AV deceleration rates at intersections. A new behavior for AVs is proposed that can prevent 90% of accidents while avoiding red light running.