Analysis of Driving Behaviors and Cognitive Load Impacts of Human Drivers in Connected Work Zones

With the continuous advancement and widespread adoption of sensor and big data technology, Connected Work Zones (CWZs) have emerged. Existing research mainly treats driving behavior and Cognitive Load (CL) as equivalent dimensions of driver response features, without considering the influence of CL on driving behavior. This study focuses on Regular Vehicles (RVs) and Connected Vehicles (CVs) as the subjects of guidance, investigating the differential impact of various guidance technology variables such as the quantity, comprehensibility, and presentation format on driving behavior and CL of drivers within CWZ. A driving simulation platform was built to conduct simulation experiments. A total of 36 drivers were recruited to take part in the experiment, from whom driving and cognitive data were collected. The behavioral characteristics of drivers across multiple dimensions under the influence of multi-source guidance information were analyzed. The results showed that traffic volumes had a significant effect on most driving behavior indicators, and the guidance variables were able to affect driver behavior significantly except for the differences in guidance content and merge locations.