This study was designed (1) to develop an initial set of measures to observe driver behaviour in different countries, and (2) to compare driver behaviour in Finland and Michigan by using these measures. Development of the measures emphasized equating environmental factors and traffic rules. For such conditions, the study produced a reliable research tool providing potentially valuable results. The measures were applied in one middle-sized city in both regions, Lahti in Finland and Ann Arbor in Michigan. The results indicated the following main differences in driver behaviour. Drivers in Lahti (compared to those in Ann Arbor) signalled more frequently before the lane change or turning, and came to a full stop at intersections with a stop sign more frequently. The following trends were found: drivers in Lahti exceeded the speed limit more frequently, but decreased the speed earlier while approaching the intersection from the secondary road, accelerated slower after turning onto the secondary road, and accepted slightly longer gaps when entering the main road. The following aspects of driver behaviour did not differ in the two cities; the variance of the speed in free-low traffic, proportion of short headways in car-following situations, the frequency of no stops compared to rolling and full stops at intersections with a stop sign, a yielding to pedestrians at intersections. It was concluded that, overall, driver behaviour in Lahti and Ann Arbor is more similar than different from each other. The main obtained differences in obeying some specific rules were interpreted to be influenced by values and norms of these societies. (A) (The paper was not included in the conference proceedings, but has been published in Transportation Research Record 1485, 1995, p. 71-79 (IRRD 876414)).
Abstract