Impact of driver compliance rate on connected vehicle applications during incidents on freeways

As the deployment of connected vehicles (CVs) advances, the driver compliance rate with this new technology is still questioned. It is uncertain how humans would change their driving behavior while responding to CV applications. This paper aims to evaluate the effect of driver compliance behavior on improving safety. A 7.8-mile section of Florida’s Turnpike system was simulated in VISSIM. Traffic incidents that resulted in one and two-lane blockages were analyzed to quantify the impact of CVs. The influence of compliance rate in CV technology was evaluated for different CV market penetration rates (MPRs). The study used FHWA’s Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM) software to assess the benefits of CV applications based on time-to-collision (TTC). The results showed a decreasing trend in morning and evening peak hours and were statistically significant at a 95% confidence level at higher CV MPRs. The study findings could inform policymakers on the effect of driving behavior in adhering to CV messages for improving safety and mobility on freeways.