Recognition of Different Truck Platoon Configurations by Light-Vehicle Drivers in High Density Traffic Environment

Abstract

Truck platooning is a technology that allows multiple trucks to operate together using connected and automated vehicle (CAV) systems. It offers economic benefits, such as reducing fuel consumption and lowering emissions. However, little research has addressed how light-vehicle drivers perceive this technology. This study aimed to investigate which truck platoon configurations are most easily recognized in high-density traffic environments. Drivers performed a simulated highway drive in a light-vehicle under conditions of maximum highway capacity. During the simulation, drivers were instructed to recognize the presence of different truck platoon configurations that varied in the number of trucks traveling in a platoon and the intervehicle distances between trucks. The results indicate that intervehicle distance has a stronger effect on recognition than the number of trucks in a platoon. These findings provide practical recommendations for configuring truck platoons in ways that do not compromise light-vehicle driver safety.