Impact elements of roadway traffic on drivers' mental workload at the highway intersections

Highway intersections as planned points of traffic conflict are believed to impose extra mental workload on drivers. The aim of this study is to identify the most representative physiological parameters of drivers' mental workload when they are passing through highway intersections and the relationship It is concluded that traffic flow on the main road section imposes the heaviest mental load on the drivers when they are on the entry and exit ramps. The total acceleration and deceleration of traffic flow is proved to be most significant positive to drivers' mental workload. The results of this study are useful to reduce drivers' mental workload by controlling the speed of traffic flow on the main road section of highway.