Calculation Model of Preposition Distance of Electronic Toll Collection Signs Based on Lane Changing Behavior

ETC and MTC lanes of China’s hybrid toll stations have various setting modes. When the vehicles passed through the toll stations, they would face a more complicated lane change process. If the ETC sign was set in the appropriate position in advance, the traffic safety in front of the toll stations would be effectively improved. The paper analyzed the process of lane change in 18 scenes by taking one-way three-lane highway at the upstream of toll station with six lanes as an example. Based on the definition of driver’s reaction distance, reading distance and safe distance of action, the theoretical calculation model of ETC sign preposition distance was established. It revealed the functional relationship between ETC lane layout schemes and sign preposition distance, and explored the reasonable setting position of the ETC sign in the full scenes of the lane layout. Finally, a case study of Nanjing toll station on Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway was carried out