An extended car-following model at signalized intersections

• Three successive car-following data at a signalized intersection of Jinan in China were collected.
• A car-following model considering two leading cars’ accelerations was proposed and calibrated.
• A comparative model used for comparative research was also proposed and calibrated.
• The fitting precision of the extended model is prior to the comparative model.
• Finally a theoretical model considering multiple leading cars’ accelerations was put forward.

To simulate car-following behaviors better when the traffic light is red, three successive car-following data at a signalized intersection of Jinan in China were collected by using a new proposed data acquisition method and then analyzed to select input variables of the extended car-following model. An extended car-following model considering two leading cars’ accelerations was proposed, calibrated and verified with field data obtained on the basis of the full velocity difference model and then a comparative model used for comparative research was also proposed and calibrated in the light of the GM model. The results indicate that the extended car-following model could fit measured data well, and that the fitting precision of the extended model is prior to the comparative model, whose mean absolute error is reduced by 22.83%. Finally a theoretical car-following model considering multiple leading cars’ accelerations was put forward which has potential applicable to vehicle automation system and vehicle safety early warning system, and then the linear stability analysis and numerical simulations were conducted to analyze some observed physical features existing in the realistic traffic.