Study on Determining the Ranges of the Inner Wheel Difference Zone for the Right Turns of Large Vehicles

To effectively reduce traffic accidents caused by inner wheel differences during large vehicles’ right turns at intersections, this study proposes a quantitative method to calculate the range of inner wheel difference areas. Typical intersections in Nanjing and Taiyuan were selected for field tests using rigid-body and articulated vehicles with different parameters. Dynamic data during turning were collected, revealing a significant linear correlation between the number of steering wheel rotations and the geometric parameters of the intersection as well as the structural dimensions of the vehicle. On the basis of Ackermann’s steering geometry theory, trajectory prediction models for both vehicle types were constructed. Verification with actual trajectory data extracted by Tracker software revealed that the rigid-body vehicle model had a maximum relative error of 8.12% and an average of 5.39%, whereas the articulated vehicle model had a maximum of 8.32% and an average of 5.12%, confirming high model accuracy. A Python-based visualization program for inner wheel difference areas was developed. The results provide technical support for scientifically marking warning areas at intersections and improving the refined management of traffic safety.