Simulated traffic corridor showing successive intersection pairs and the driving route
Figure 3. Layout of experiment #1, showing successive intersection pairs along the simulated corridor. Source: Yang et al. (2026).

Dr. Yunmei Liu is a co-author of “Driver behavior analysis at alternative intersection corridors through driving simulator,” first-authored by Guangchuan Yang. The paper was published online in Accident Analysis & Prevention on February 9, 2026.

Designing Corridors with Drivers in Mind

Supported by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), this collaboration with the Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) aims to inform the design and implementation of safer, more effective alternative intersections.

Using a driving simulator, the study examined how 48 participants navigated corridors with different combinations of conventional and alternative intersections. The analysis considered navigation errors, approach speeds, hard braking, and lane changes.

Driver responses depended on the intersection movement and the configuration of preceding intersections, highlighting the importance of considering neighboring designs together. Participants also identified difficulties with traffic guidance. The findings support clearer signing, pavement markings, and attention to how drivers encounter unfamiliar intersection sequences. This collaborative work relates to the lab’s broader interests in transportation safety and human-centered roadway design.

Read the publication in Accident Analysis & Prevention