Analysis and regulation of driving behavior in the entrance area of freeway tunnels: Implementation of visual guidance systems in China.

In China, visual guidance systems are commonly used in tunnels to optimize the visual reference system. However, studies focusing specifically on visual guidance systems in the tunnel entrance area are limited. Hence, a driving simulation test is performed in this study to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of (i) visual guidance devices at different vertical positions (pavement and roadside) and (ii) a multilayer visual guidance system for regulating driving behavior in the tunnel entrance area. Furthermore, the characteristics of driving behavior and their effects on traffic safety in the tunnel entrance area are examined. Data such as the vehicle position, area of interest (AOI), throttle position, steering wheel angle, and lane center offset are obtained using a driving simulation platform and an eye-tracking device. As indicators, the first fixation position (FP), starting deceleration position (DP), average throttle position (TPav), number of deceleration stages (N|DS), gradual change degree of the vehicle trajectory (G|VT), and average steering wheel angle (SWAav) are derived. The regulatory effect of visual guidance devices on driving performance is investigated. First, high-position roadside visual guidance devices effectively reduce decision urgency and significantly enhance deceleration and lane-keeping performance. Specifically, the advanced deceleration performance (AD), smooth deceleration performance (SD), trajectory gradualness (TG), and trajectory stability (TS) in the tunnel entrance area improve by 63%, 225%, 269%, and 244%, respectively. Additionally, the roadside low-position visual guidance devices primarily target the trajectory gradualness (TG), thus resulting in improvements by 80% and 448% in the TG and TS, respectively. Meanwhile, the pavement visual guidance devices focus solely on enhancing the TS and demonstrates a relatively lower improvement rate of 99%. Finally, the synergistic effect of these visual guidance devices facilitates the multilayer visual guidance system in enhancing the deceleration and lane-keeping performance. This aids drivers in early detection and deceleration at the tunnel entrance area, reduces the urgency of deceleration decisions, promotes smoother deceleration, and improves the gradualness and stability of trajectories.

The effects of the traffic signs information volume on the visual characteristics and workload of novice and experienced drivers.

BACKGROUND: The effects of traffic sign information volume (TSIV) on the visual characteristics and workload of novice and experienced drivers were investigated in this study. TSIV plays a crucial role in road traffic safety, and understanding its impact on drivers is essential for designing effective traffic sign systems. OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to compare the visual characteristics and workload of novice and experienced drivers under varying TSIV doses through simulated driving tests. The objective was to provide insights for optimizing the design of road TSIV. METHODS: Six TSIV levels were considered: S0, S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, representing different workload levels. Participants, including both novice and experienced drivers, were involved in simulated driving scenarios with varying TSIV levels. Eye movement data was collected using an eye tracker device. The study was conducted in China, and appropriate driving simulators and equipment were utilized. RESULTS: The findings revealed several valuable results. Experienced drivers exhibited a higher proportion of saccade behavior in the 30-90 ms time period and did not show rapid saccade behavior during the 0-30 ms period, indicating superior visual search strategies. Both novice and experienced drivers demonstrated improved visual cognitive abilities at the S3 level of TSIV, which corresponds to normal and safe driving conditions. Furthermore, a majority of both groups had saccade amplitudes in the range of 0°-4°, with experienced drivers showing a slightly higher proportion. About 82% of experienced drivers had saccade behavior within the range of 0°-2°, compared to 75% of novice drivers. CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that the S3 level of TSIV, corresponding to 30 bits/km, is optimal for both novice and experienced drivers. This level promotes better visual performance and reduces visual workload, indicating that drivers' information acquisition capacity and visual search strategies are maximized while keeping the workload associated with driving at a minimum. These findings have significant implications for enhancing driving safety.

Unraveling the impact of fog on driver behavior in highway tunnel entrances: A field experiment.

OBJECTIVES: This research aims to (1) study the visual and psychological characteristics of drivers in foggy tunnel entrances, (2) compare driver behavior inside and outside foggy tunnels, and (3) propose improvement ideas based on the study results. METHODS: A realistic vehicle trial was conducted. Eight participants completed trials in both foggy and clear zones on the same roadway. Drivers' physiological and psychological properties were analyzed using gaze, saccade, pupil, and heart rate as primary indicators. Pupil area change rate and heart rate variability (HRV) were used as secondary indicators. RESULTS: Visibility and tunnel area had a significant impact on drivers' visual and psychological traits. For instance, drivers in the foggy zone exhibited longer fixation duration, larger pupil area, faster heart rate, and greater HRV. Moreover, the foggy zone inside the tunnel heightened drivers' visual discomfort and psychological tension. CONCLUSION: The study suggests a high risk associated with driving in the entrance area of highway tunnels during foggy conditions, particularly after entering the tunnel. This situation significantly increases drivers' visual and psychological load. Furthermore, the effectiveness of retro-reflective facilities diminishes. Therefore, employing more self-illuminated or actively illuminated visual guiding facilities is recommended to aid drivers in acquiring traffic information.

Evaluation of eye-catching effect in highway tunnel entrance area based on saccade behavior.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of visual attraction in the entrance areas of highway tunnels on drivers' saccade behavior and driving safety, with the objective of providing insights for tunnel entrance design and driver education. METHODS: Fifty participants were recruited for the naturalistic driving experiment. Four different visually attractive driving scenarios (baseline, landscape-style architecture, tip slogan, and billboard) were selected. Eye-tracking technology was utilized to record and analyze the scanning behavior of participating drivers. Various metrics, including saccade duration, frequency, amplitude, velocity, and the peak-to-average ratio of saccade velocity (PARSV), were measured and compared across different scenarios. RESULTS: The results revealed different patterns of visual scanning dynamics among the four experimental scenarios, reflecting the different levels of visual-cognitive demands and situation awareness of drivers. The visual attraction in the tunnel entrance area resulted in prolonged saccade duration, increased saccade amplitude, reduced saccade frequency, and slower, less stable saccade velocity. Among these, drivers exhibited the most intricate and unstable scanning behavior, accompanied by the lowest level of situational awareness, particularly under the influence of visual attraction of tip slogan. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of considering visual attraction in tunnel entrance design. Minimizing unnecessary visual attraction can help reduce distractions and maintain driver attention, ultimately enhancing driving safety. Driver education programs should emphasize the significance of adapting to visual attraction at tunnel entrances to promote safer driving practices. Overall, this study contributes valuable insights into the effects of visual attraction on driver scanning behavior, facilitating the development of strategies to improve tunnel design and driver education.

Evaluation of traffic signs information volume at highway tunnel entrance zone based on the visual sample entropy of novice and experienced drivers.

OBJECTIVE: Traffic signs play a crucial role in ensuring road traffic safety, particularly in high-risk driving zones like the entrance zone of highway tunnels. However, the impact of traffic signs information volume (TSIV) on the performance of experienced and novice drivers in this specific zone remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the influence of TSIV on the visual sample entropy (SampEn) of both experienced and novice drivers in the entrance zone of highway tunnels. METHODS: A real vehicle driving trial was conducted with 60 participants approaching tunnels under various TSIV conditions. Fixation duration SampEn, saccade duration SampEn, and saccade amplitude SampEn were analyzed for both driver groups. RESULTS: As both driver groups approached the tunnel entrance, fixation duration SampEn, saccade duration SampEn, and saccade amplitude SampEn gradually increased. Initially, visual SampEn declined, followed by an increase as the TSIV level increased. The lowest value of visual SampEn was observed under the T3 TSIV condition (48.31 bits). Experienced drivers exhibited lower visual SampEn compared to novice drivers under similar TSIV conditions. CONCLUSIONS: TSIV and driving experience significantly influence the visual SampEn of drivers approaching the tunnel entrance. Optimal visual search patterns and performance were observed under the T3 TSIV condition (48.31 bits), which is critical for ensuring driving safety in the entrance zone of highway tunnels. Additionally, experienced drivers demonstrate better adaptation to tunnel environments and TSIV, while novice drivers may benefit from additional training to enhance their visual perception and performance.

The evaluation of eye-catching effect in freeway tunnel entrance zone based on fixation behavior characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: The visual attraction of the freeway tunnel entrance zone will affect the driver's visual performance and visual workload, and then affect the driving safety. The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of different visual attraction conditions in the entrance zone of the freeway tunnel on driver's fixation behavior, and then evaluate the impact of eye-catching effect on driving safety. METHODS: Thirty-five participants were recruited for the naturalistic driving experiment. Four different visually attractive driving scenarios (baseline, landscape-style architecture, tip slogan, and billboard) were selected. Participants' fixation behavior data were collected using an eye-tracking device. The effects of the visual attraction conditions in the freeway tunnel entrance zones were analyzed on driver fixation duration, number of fixations, fixation deviation, and pupil diameter. RESULTS: The results demonstrated significant effects of different visual attractions in the entrance zone of the freeway tunnel on drivers' fixation behavior. Under the visual attraction of the billboard, drivers exhibited the most number of fixations. And under the visual attraction of tip slogan, drivers had the longest average fixation duration, the smallest horizontal fixation deviation, the largest vertical fixation deviation, and the highest pupil diameter and its coefficient of variation. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that different visual attractions in the freeway tunnel entrance zone have different effects on the eye-catching effect of drivers, by influencing the fixation behavior characteristics of drivers. Billboard is most effective in capturing drivers' visual attention, and tip slogan requires greater attention allocation and visual cognitive effort from drivers, resulting in the highest visual cognitive workload. This study highlights the complex relationship between visual attraction and its performance on driver fixation behavior. The insights from this study can provide valuable references for the design and optimization of the visual environment in the entrance zone of freeway tunnels.

Dynamic driving risk in highway tunnel groups based on pupillary oscillations.

This study aims to understand the dynamic changes in driving risks in highway tunnel groups. Real-world driving experiments were conducted, collecting pupil area data to measure pupil size oscillations using the Percentage of Pupil Area Variable (PPAV) metric. The analysis focused on investigating relative pupil size fluctuations to explore trends in driving risk fluctuations within tunnel groups. The objective was to identify accident-prone areas and key factors influencing driving risks, providing insights for safety improvements. The findings revealed an overall "whipping effect" phenomenon in driving risk changes within tunnel groups. Differences were observed between interior tunnel areas and open sections, including adjacent, approach, and departure zones. Higher driving risks were associated with locations closer to the tail end of the tunnel group and shorter exit departure sections. Targeted safety improvement designs should consider fluctuation patterns in different directions, with attention to tunnels at the tail end. In open sections, increased travel distance and lengths of upstream and downstream tunnels raised driving risks, while longer open zones improved driving risks. Driving direction and sequence had minimal impact on risks. By integrating driver vision, tunnel characteristics, and the environment, this study identified high-risk areas and critical factors, providing guidance for monitoring and improving driving risks in tunnel groups. The findings have practical implications for the operation and safety management of tunnel groups.

The chemical damage of sandstone after sulfuric acid-rock reactions with different duration times and its influence on the impact mechanical behaviour.

The low-permeability characteristic of sandstone-type uranium deposits has become the key geological bottleneck during the in-situ leaching mining, seriously restricting the development and utilization of uranium resources in China. At present, the blasting-enhanced permeability (BEP) and acidizing-enhanced permeability (AEP) are confirmed to be mainstream approaches to enhance the reservoir permeability of low-permeability sandstone-type uranium deposit (LPSUD). To clarify the synergistic effect of BEP and AEP, the acid-rock reaction and dynamic impact experiments were conducted, aiming to study the effect of chemical reactions on pore structure, dynamic mechanical properties and failure pattern of sandstone. Results show that with the increasing acid-rock reaction time, the total pore volume of samples is promoted largely and exhibits obvious chemical damage. The change of pore volume depends on the pore size, the 100-1000 nm and 1000-10000 nm pores are more susceptible to acid-rock reactions. The dynamic peak strength and the dynamic elastic modulus are decreased and the dynamic peak strain and strain rate are increased when lengthening the acid-rock reaction time, whose evolution laws can be fitted by the logistic expression, the linear expression and the exponential expression, respectively. The acid-rock reactions also have an influence on the fracture development of samples after the dynamic impact. The damaged fractures on the end faces of samples grow from the isolated short fracture, the isolated long fracture to the fracture network, and the damaged fractures on the sides of samples develop from the non-penetration fractures, penetration fractures to the multi-branch fractures. This study clarifies the physical and chemical combined damage mechanism, demonstrates the potential of reservoir stimulation by uniting the BEP and the AEP, and provides a theoretical reference for the reservoir stimulation of LPSUD.

Comparative study on electroencephalography characteristics of professional and non-professional drivers in tunnel sections: A field investigation.

BACKGROUND: The tunnel section is a complex traffic scenario and an accident prone area. There are differences in the performance of different driving groups in tunnel environments, which may have an impact on traffic safety. OBJECTIVE: To study the differences in the impact of tunnel environment on professional and non-professional drivers. METHODS: Based on the vehicle experimental data, the electroencephalography (EEG) power was compared for professional and non-professional drivers. The impact of illumination changes and longitudinal slope on different driving groups was analyzed. RESULTS: At tunnel entrance with severely reduced lighting, the adaptation time of non-professional drivers to the light environment is 1.5 times that of professional drivers. When driving on the longitudinal slope, professional drivers perform better. The greater the longitudinal slope, the more obvious the advantages of professional drivers. However, in areas with relatively good traffic conditions, professional drivers are more prone to be distracted. CONCLUSION: Professional and non-professional drivers have their own advantages and disadvantages in the tunnel environment. In general, the driving adaptability of professional drivers is better than that of non-professional drivers in tunnel sections. The research conclusions provide a reference for driver safety training.

Luminance stepped decreasing ratio of the tunnel entrance enhanced lighting based on visual performance.

To achieve a safe and comfortable entrance enhanced lighting environment of tunnels, visual performance experiments under the dynamic and static luminance environments were carried out to investigate the influence of the luminance variation forms and stepped decreasing ratio k' of the tunnel entrance enhanced lighting on the driver's comprehensive visual performance. The application effect was further verified by real vehicle experiments and field luminance measurements. The results of the dynamic and static experiments show that compared with the continuous and smooth decrease of the luminance according to the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), when facing the stepped decrease of luminance, drivers tend to withstand greater visual operation stress and a more tense psychological state. After the stepped decrease of the luminance, the driver's average and instantaneous reaction both slow down, while the amplitude of the slowdown decreases with the increase of k' and increases with the increase of the luminance level. The results of the real vehicle experiments show that increasing k' of Threshold Zones 1 and 2 and Transition Zones 1 and 2 to 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, and 0.5, respectively, can effectively relieve driver's psychological tension and enhance the visual performance. For practical engineering applications, it should be combined with daylight reduction facilities, thus avoiding the increase of energy consumption of the tunnel entrance enhance lighting.

Analysis of Traffic Signs Information Volume Affecting Driver's Visual Characteristics and Driving Safety.

To study the influence of traffic signs information volume (TSIV) on drivers' visual characteristics and driving safety, the simulation scenarios of different levels of TSIV were established, and 30 participants were recruited for simulated driving tests. The eye tracker was used to collect eye movement data under three-speed conditions (60 km/h, 80 km/h, and 100 km/h) and different levels of TSIV (0 bits/km, 10 bits/km, 20 bits/km, 30 bits/km, 40 bits/km, and 50 bits/km). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to select indicators sensitive to the influence of TSIV on the drivers' visual behavior and to analyze the influence of TSIV on the drivers' visual characteristics and visual workload intensity under different speed conditions. The results show that the fixation duration, saccade duration, and saccade amplitude are the three eye movement indicators that are most responsive to changes in the TSIV. The driver's visual characteristics perform best at the S3 TSIV level (30 bits/km), with the lowest visual workload intensity, indicating that drivers have the lowest psychological stress and lower driving workload when driving under this TSIV condition. Therefore, a density of 30 bits/km is suggested for the TSIV, in order to ensure the security and comfort of the drivers. The theoretical underpinnings for placing and optimizing traffic signs will be provided by this work.

Influence of different visual guiding facilities in urban road tunnel on driver's spatial right-of-way perception.

Urban road tunnel construction is becoming ever more prevalent, and traffic safety in tunnel operation is even more important. This study evaluates the influence of different visual guiding facilities on drivers' spatial right-of-way perception by combining quantitative and qualitative methods in order to provide a basis for traffic safety optimization in the tunnel. Simulation scenes were designed for six common types of visual guiding facilities as comprising no facility (baseline), horizontal strips, edge markers, LED arch, vertical stripes, and combination (multiple) facilities. An eye tracker was used to obtain eye movement data of subject drivers exposed to various scenes. After each driving test, psychological feeling of the subjects in tunnel driving, and their ratings of alignment and contour guidance of various facilities were obtained by questionnaires. The research results showed that setting locations and facility types have a great impact on drivers' glance location and glance duration. When horizontal stripes, edge markers, LED arch and vertical stripes were set separately, alignment guidance and contour guidance performance were found to vary in inverse proportion. Horizontal stripes and edge markers are the preferred and necessary facilities, which are conducive to ensuring longitudinal and horizontal rights-of-way. LED arch and vertical stripes are also good supplements to spatial right-of-way. The combination of these 4 types of facilities can provide multi-level alignment guidance and contour guidance functions, which is beneficial to traffic safety in the tunnel.

Analysis of EEG Characteristics of Drivers and Driving Safety in Undersea Tunnel.

To study the influence of the driving environment of an undersea tunnel on driver EEG (electroencephalography) characteristics and driving safety, a real vehicle experiment was performed in the Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Tunnel. The experimental data of the drivers' real vehicle experiment were collected using an illuminance meter, EEG instrument, video recorder and other experimental equipment. The undersea tunnel is divided into different areas, and the distribution law of driving environment characteristics, EEG characteristics and vehicle speed characteristics is analyzed. The correlations between the driving environment characteristics, EEG characteristics and vehicle speed characteristics model the variables that pass the correlation test. The driving safety evaluation model of an undersea tunnel is established, and the driving safety in different areas of the undersea tunnel is evaluated. The results show that there are obvious differences in illumination, EEG power change rate, vehicle speed and other variables in different areas of the undersea tunnel. The driving environment characteristics are highly correlated with the ß wave power change rate. The driving safety of different areas of the undersea tunnel from high to low is: upslope area, downslope area, exit area and entrance area. The study will provide a theoretical basis for the safe operation of the undersea tunnel.

Drivers' visual load at different time periods in entrance and exit zones of extra-long tunnel.

OBJECTIVE: As the number of tunnels and traffic accidents increase, it is necessary to study the drivers' visual characteristic in the tunnels. Considering that freeway tunnels have limited space and narrow sight zone, drivers usually have a short visual blind zone and visual shock when entering and exiting the tunnels. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of drivers' visual load in the entrance and exit zones of extra-long tunnels, and to provide a theoretical basis for the traffic safety prevention and control measures of the engineering design. METHODS: 20 drivers were enrolled to conduct real vehicle tests in the Guizhou Sifangdong Tunnel at different time periods (daytime, twilight, and nighttime). The drivers' pupil area was collected by an eye tracker. The maximum transient vibration value (MTVV) of the pupil area was selected as the index of visual load. In addition, the changing characteristics of visual load in the entrance and exit zones were examined. Using ANOVA, the significant difference of visual load in different zones and at different time periods were performed. Accordingly, the overall drivers' visual load in the entrance and the exit zones were compared. Exponential function models of the MTVV value and the speed of pupil area change were constructed, where the pattern of mutual influence was examined. RESULTS: The changing pattern of the drivers' visual load at different time periods in the entrance and exit zones were markedly different. The comparison of the overall visual load was as follows: exit zones at nighttime > entrance zones at nighttime > entrance zones at twilight > exit zones at twilight ≈ entrance zones at daytime ≈ exit zones at daytime. Moreover, the MTVV value positively correlated with the speed of the pupil area change. Finally, this study proposes an evaluation standard of visual comfort based on the speed of the pupil area change. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the driving risk in extra-long tunnel. These findings could provide a basis for studying the setting method of visual guidance facilities in entrance and exit zones of extra-long tunnel. Also, this study could provide a theoretical basis for the evaluation of drivers' visual load in the tunnel.

Pinitol Prevents Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Induced Inflammatory Responses in BV2 Microglia Mediated by TREM2.

Microglia-involved neuroinflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) has been shown to aggravate brain damage and is associated with the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, suppression of microglial activity has the potential to be a strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Pinitol, a methylated product of D-chiro-inositol, has been used as a treatment for blood-sugar metabolism and as an anti-tumor agent via its anti-inflammatory effects in cancer. However, whether or not pinitol can inhibit microglia-associated neuroinflammation is still unknown. This study aims to determine the effects of pinitol on inflammatory responses in BV2 microglia induced by LPS. Here, we found that the presence of pinitol ameliorates LPS-induced oxidative stress by reducing the production of ROS. Pinitol suppresses the expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. Notably, pinitol prevents the production of NO and PGE2 by inhibiting the expression of iNOS and COX-2. Mechanistically, our findings demonstrate that pinitol inhibits the phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα and subsequent activation of NF-κB. Furthermore, we show that pinitol increases the expression of TREM2 in BV2 microglia, and silencing of TREM2 abolished the anti-inflammatory effects of pinitol. These findings suggest that TREM2 mediates the protective effects of pinitol against LPS in microglia. In summary, our results display that pinitol possesses a robust and beneficial effect against the LPS-induced inflammatory response in microglia.