Drivers’ Lane Change Maneuver and Speed Behavior in Freeway Work Zones

Lane changing and merging occurs more frequently in work zones than other roadway conditions due to mandatory lane changes that occur in work zones with lane closures. Discretionary lane changes are also performed in work zones under conditions where drivers respond to signage, speed reduction, drivers’ aggressiveness, entering and exiting work zone area, or avoiding slow moving or heavy vehicles. Understanding driver behavior and particularly lane changing within and entering the work zone area can be utilized to better design and operate safe work zones. The overall objective for this research is to develop logistic regression model to identify factors that influence drivers’ lane changing behavior in order to improve work zone safety. The vehicle type, original lane average speed and target lane volume were found to be a significant factor influencing lane changes in the work zone.