A method for evaluating the safety of freeway tunnel sections based on driving comfort - a naturalistic driving study

Driving comfort is crucial for tunnel safety because tunnel sections on freeways often introduce significant environmental changes that can compromise comfort and increase the risk of traffic accidents. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the driving comfort in tunnel sections and its implications for safety management. Four indicators were used to assess the driving comfort: heart rate growth rate (Hrgr), skin conductance response (SCR), speed, and acceleration. The CRITIC weighting method was employed to calculate a quantitative driving comfort score, and the presence and severity of discomfort were used to evaluate the safety of each tunnel area. In addition, the evaluation was based on a naturalistic test consisting of Hrgr, SCR, speed, and acceleration data. A total of 32 participants were recruited based on a web-based questionnaire screening process, after which they were tested while driving through 30 tunnel sections on the roadway. These 30 tunnels included 14 short (< 500 m), 12 medium (500–1,000 m), and 4 long (1,000–3,000 m) tunnels. The results revealed that the four selected indicators exhibited minimal multicollinearity and effectively captured the driving comfort. Among the indicators, SCR had the most significant contribution to the driving comfort score. Most drivers did not experience substantial discomfort while driving through tunnels. The area where drivers were most susceptible to discomfort was the middle zones of tunnels. However, drivers were more likely to experience strong discomfort in the outside exit, entrance, and middle zones of short, medium, and long tunnels, respectively. This study provides a comprehensive set of safety evaluation methods for tunnel sections on freeways, with a focus on quantifying the driving comfort. The findings provide theoretical support for freeway management personnel in implementing personalized controls in different tunnel areas with the aim of enhancing tunnel safety and mitigating the occurrence of traffic accidents.

驾驶舒适性对于隧道交通安全至关重要，因为高速公路隧道区段往往会带来显著的环境变化，这些变化会降低驾驶舒适性并提升交通事故发生风险。本研究旨在对高速公路隧道区段的驾驶舒适性及其对安全管理的启示进行定量评估。本研究选取四项指标评估驾驶舒适性：心率增长率（heart rate growth rate, Hrgr）、皮肤电反应（skin conductance response, SCR）、车速以及加速度。本研究采用CRITIC权重法计算定量驾驶舒适性评分，并以不适感受的存在情况与严重程度来评估各隧道区域的安全性。此外，本次评估基于一项自然驾驶试验，试验数据涵盖心率增长率、皮肤电反应、车速及加速度四类指标。研究通过网络问卷筛查招募了32名参与者，随后让他们在道路上行驶通过30个隧道区段以完成测试。这30座隧道包含14座短隧道（长度小于500米）、12座中等长度隧道（长度500~1000米）以及4座长隧道（长度1000~3000米）。研究结果表明，所选四项指标的多重共线性极低，且能够有效反映驾驶舒适性水平。在四项指标中，SCR对驾驶舒适性评分的贡献最为显著。多数驾驶员在通行隧道时并未出现明显的不适感受。驾驶员最易产生不适感受的区域为隧道中部区段。不过，短隧道、中等长度隧道与长隧道的驾驶员分别更易在隧道出口外侧、入口区域以及中部区段感受到强烈不适。本研究为高速公路隧道区段构建了一套完整的安全评估体系，核心聚焦于驾驶舒适性的定量评估。本研究结果可为高速公路管理人员针对不同隧道区段实施个性化管控提供理论支撑，以提升隧道交通安全水平并降低交通事故发生率。