Highlights

Designing for the Human Environment

This video introduces the public to the cutting-edge research being conducted at the FHWA’s Human Factors Highway Driving Simulator Lab, where studying how drivers perceive and interact with the world around them is leading to innovative solutions in roadway design, connected vehicle automation, and pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

Simulations

Human Factors Trailer of Highway Driving Simulation Projects

This video shows a driving simulation through various human factors experiments that were conducted using the Highway Driving Simulator. The video also demonstrates a variety of capabilities that are possible with this research tool.

Advancing Vulnerable Road User Research Through Virtual Reality

This video describes how the Human Factors Team at FHWA’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center is using virtual reality to study pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

Cooperative and Automated Driving Systems

Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC)

Connected and automated vehicles will be a reality sooner rather than later. The FHWA’s Human Factors Highway Driving Simulator Lab is preparing for that day by studying driver actions in a simulated environment to learn more about how humans respond when the driving task is partially automated.

Cooperative Pedestrian Crossing Application

This video highlights Vehicle to Pedestrian (V2P) cooperative technologies through the midblock pedestrian crossing application. This application will alert drivers of pedestrians attempting to make a midblock crossing. When the pedestrian has entered a geofenced area, they have the option to alert surrounding vehicles of their intent to cross.

Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) Merging Behavior

This video shows two video clips (one right after the other) to show how people merge, either manually, or using the cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) automation, into a line of other cars on the highway. The first clip shows a participant merging into a gap in the traffic, with the assistance of the CACC merging automation. The second video shows a participant merging into a gap manually (without CACC). The gaps between the cars are short, and the vehicle merging without the CACC is hit by the car approaching from the rear.

Alternative Intersections

Diverging Diamond Interchange In-Vehicle View with Traffic

This video shows a simulation of driving through a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) from a motorist's perspective. NOTE: This animation is for illustrative purposes only. The Traffic Control Devices and geometric design details would differ for a completed DDI.

Diverging Diamond Interchange In-Vehicle View with Traffic and Pedestrians

This video shows a simulation of driving through a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) from a motorist's perspective. It includes other motorists and pedestrians. NOTE: This animation is for illustrative purposes only. The Traffic Control Devices and geometric design details would differ for a completed DDI.

Traditional Intersection Design before Restricted Crossover U-Turn (RCUT)

This video shows a simulation of a traditional major/minor roadway intersection with Two-Way Stop-Control (TWSC). The video also demonstrates the queuing effect that occurs on the minor roadway as motorists wait for the median to clear.

Restricted Crossover U-Turn (RCUT) - Aerial View of Operations

This video shows a simulation of the Restricted-Crossover U-Turn (RCUT) intersection design. It shows the relative ease of finding a gap to enter the intersection. NOTE: This animation is for illustrative purposes only. The Traffic Control Devices and geometric design details would differ for a completed intersection. The use of acceleration lanes is also recommended under certain traffic conditions.

Restricted Crossover U-Turn In-Vehicle Drive with Route Signing

This video provides a simulated in-vehicle view of navigating through a Restricted-Crossover U-Turn (RCUT) intersection from a driver's perspective when approaching from the minor roadway. Viewers will see route signs along the sides of major and minor roads, vehicle speed, and traffic from behind in the rearview and side view mirrors, which illustrates the multiple conflicts/challenges that a driver faces during acceleration, weaving, and deceleration. NOTE: This animation is for illustrative purposes only. The Traffic Control Devices and geometric design details would differ for a completed intersection. The use of acceleration lanes is also recommended under certain traffic conditions.

Mini Roundabout

This video shows an in-vehicle view of a simulated mini-roundabout. The video starts with an aerial view depicting an AutoCAD drawing that was used to simulate the intersection's geometry and traffic control devices. The video then transitions to an in-vehicle view that navigates through the intersection. NOTE: This animation is for illustrative purposes only. The Traffic Control Devices and geometric design details would differ for a completed intersection. The use of acceleration lanes is also recommended under certain traffic conditions.

Other Simulations

Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation in the Dilemma Zone

This video shows a vehicle approaching a signalized intersection with a green light indication. When the vehicle nears the intersection, a red light indicator located inside the cab begins to flash alerting the driver of cross traffic that will be entering the intersection. The purpose is to alert the driver to take evasive action.

Driving Safety Enhancement for Rural Curves at Night

This video demonstrates the various topographical and roadway features in layers that are used when developing a drivable simulated environment. This scenario was used to examine the effects of varying countermeasures on driver behavior on rural roadways with horizontal and vertical curvature at night.