MODELING QUEUED DRIVER BEHAVIOR AT SIGNALIZED JUNCTIONS

Some of the findings from a recent study of the queue discharge headway process are summarized. One outcome of the study was the development of a model of discharge headway at signalized junctions. The model is based on vehicle and driver capabilities, including driver reaction time, driver acceleration, and vehicle speed. To calibrate the model, data were collected at five signalized junctions. The discharge headway model developed in this research indicates that the minimum discharge headway of a traffic movement is not reached until the eighth or higher queue positions. Application of the model suggests that the minimum discharge headway of a traffic movement under ideal conditions may be shorter than 2.0 sec/veh and that its corresponding start-up lost time may be longer than 2.0 sec.