Headway, the time or distance between two vehicles, is a critical factor in road safety, particularly in relation to rear-end collisions. This study aims to improve the Driver Safety Tolerance Zone (STZ) by examining the combined influence of road environment, vehicle state and driver behaviour through a holistic approach. The STZ represents the dynamic balance between task complexity and coping capacity and is designed to capture transitions between safe, risky and potentially hazardous driving phases. To achieve this, data were collected from a naturalistic driving experiment involving 135 and a driving simulator study with 55 participants. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) were used to identify the key explanatory variables of headway events, while Structural Equation Models (SEMs) explored the latent constructs of task complexity, coping capacity and risk. Results indicated that task complexity had a positive correlation with crash risk, especially during night-time and adverse weather conditions. Conversely, coping capacity, reflected through behavioural indicators, was negatively associated with risk, highlighting drivers’ ability to compensate under challenging conditions. A positive relationship was observed between task complexity and coping capacity, implying that drivers respond to more demanding situations by increasing their engagement. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of the STZ concept as a comprehensive model for interpreting driving behaviour across diverse conditions. The benefits of integrating behavioural, environmental and vehicle-related data to enhance traffic safety were also highlighted. The outcomes of this holistic approach may provide meaningful guidance for policymakers, encouraging data-informed safety strategies and the adoption of connected, user-oriented technologies.
| ID | pc626 |
| Presentation | |
| Full Text | |
| Tags |
