Empirical Analysis and Modeling of Stop-Line Crossing Behaviour during the Phase Transition Period at Signalized Intersections in China

In China, a flashing green (FG) indication of 3s followed by a yellow (Y) indication of 3s is commonly applied to end the green phase at signalized intersections. The objective of this study is thus to empirically analyze and model drivers’ stop-line crossing behavior in response to the specific phase transition period of FG and Y. 1,459 high-resolution vehicle trajectories are collected at three rural high-speed intersections with a speed limit of 80km/h and two urban intersections with a speed limit of 50km/h in Shanghai. With the vehicle trajectory data, statistical analyses are firstly performed to look into the general characteristics of stop-line crossing time and speed at the two types of intersections. The stop-line crossing time is defined as the elapsed time in seconds after the onset of FG in this study. The stop-line crossing speed is the instantaneous spot speed measured at the stop-line. A Multinomial Logit model and a Multiple Linear Regression model are then developed to predict the stop-line crossing patterns and speeds respectively. It was found that the percentage of stop-line crossings during the Y interval is remarkably higher and the stop-line crossing time is approximately 0.5-0.7s longer at the urban intersections, as compared with the rural intersections. In addition, approaching speed and distance to the stop-line at the onset of FG as well as intersection area type significantly affect the percentages of stop-line crossings during the FG and Y intervals. Vehicle type and stop-line crossing time were found to significantly influence the stop-line crossing speed, in addition to the above factors. The red-light-running seems to occur more frequently at the large intersections with a long cycle length.