A Study on Lane-Changing Risk Evolution of Vehicle Group on the Adjacent Section of Freeway Tunnels

To overcome the challenges of existing lane-changing risk, indicators developed based on vehicular movement status parameters were difficult to apply to tunnels with complex vehicle interactions and traffic scenarios and frequently neglected the driving risk correlation between lane-changing vehicle and its surrounding vehicles; a risk potential field model based on the potential field theory was established. Furthermore, the method of quantifying lane-changing risk based on “vehicle group” on the adjacent section of freeway tunnels was proposed. Research results show that the lane-changing vehicle has the highest driving risk during the lane-changing process in vehicle group on the adjacent section of the freeway tunnels and exists a high collision probability with the side, front side, and front vehicles on the sections of (0, 500) m, (500, 1,000) m, and (1,000, 1,500) m to the tunnel entrance, respectively. The results provide certain support for subsequent tunnel traffic safety management and enhancement.