CONFERENCE / REACT-2024

With the continuous growth of urbanization and increasing vehicular traffic, the analysis of overtaking manoeuvres has become crucial for ensuring road safety and efficient traffic flow. This study involves comprehensive analysis and modelling of overtaking traffic conflicts on two-lane two-way roads. The study locations include three straight road stretches connecting Chavadimukku- Karyavattom road, Karyavattom- Kazhakoottam road and Karickom- Kottarakkara road, where the overtaking of vehicles found more. The main objective was to investigate and evaluate the potential conflicts arising from overtaking manoeuvres, considering various traffic parameters with the help of a surrogate safety measure (SSM) called the Time to Collision (TTC). TTC value of 1.4 was found to be the threshold value for severity classification. The severity levels divided into 4 levels based on the TTC values, which include severe, moderate, minor and no conflicts. With the help of TTC values, severity models of the conflicts at the selected locations were developed and these conflict models were developed using multinomial logit (ML) and ordered probit(OP) models. Key factors influencing overtaking behaviour, including vehicle speed differentials, overtaking distance, type of vehicle overtaking etc. are systematically manipulated to assess their individual and collective effects on traffic conflicts. From the study the ML model was found more fit for the severity study of overtaking manoeuvres for the selected study location.