Visual Mechanism Behind Drivers’ Preference on Curve-cutting Behavior of Lane Centering Control during Curve Negotiation

Abstract:

The visual angles of drivers' gaze points and critical waypoints on an expressway ramp in the driving simulator when the lane centering control system （LCCS） is on were gathered. A model was built to analyze the relationship between visual characteristics and drivers’ preference on the curve-cutting behavior of paths. First， methods to analyze driver gaze behavior by nearing critical waypoints were proposed. Next， the relationship between positions of critical waypoints and driver gaze points on different curve segments was analyzed， and the reason for this relationship was used to predict driver preference was also demonstrated. Finally， 72 statistic indices were designed based on visual characteristics. A logistic regression model of drivers’ preference on curve cutting behavior with selected 8 indices was built. The results show that the estimation model predicts drivers’ relative preference on curve cutting behavior of two paths on the center area of the curve road with a high prediction accuracy. Coefficients in the model reveal the visual mechanism behind curve-cutting behavior preference， which provides the basis for the design of preference estimation methods and lane-centering control systems adaptive to driver preference.

Key words:lane centering control system (LCCS);drivers' preference;visual mechanism;curve-cutting behavior