The Impact of Transition Control in Different Adaptive Cruise Control Systems on Traffic Flow Efficiency and Road Safety

Abstract

This study examines the impact of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) systems on traffic flow efficiency and road safety, with a particular emphasis on transition control between automated and manual driving. Empirical data from the OpenACC database and the SAE Level 2 naturalistic driving study were analyzed to capture key ACC characteristics, which were then used in simulations to reflect the variability among different ACC systems. Simulations were conducted on a section of the Dutch A13 highway, with ACC market penetration rates (MPRs) set at 25% and 75%. The ACC and transition control models were integrated as external driver models in PTV VISSIM under the assumption of nearly ideal human driver responses, excluding potential response delays and the string instability typically associated with ACC systems.

The results indicate that ACC systems with transition control models significantly enhance traffic flow efficiency and safety, particularly at higher MPRs. The introduction of ACC vehicles reduced congestion and increased time-to-collision (TTC) values, reflecting improved traffic safety. However, the study highlights limitations, including simplified human driving behaviors and the exclusion of string stability effects. Future research should focus on more complex driving scenarios, such as urban environments, and enhance data collection methods to further understand ACC system performance in diverse traffic conditions.