AbstractAdvanced driver assistance system (ADAS) plays an important role in the transition period before the full maturity of self-driving technology. In this paper, an intelligent driver model with multiple time delays (IDM-MTD) is established to describe the dynamic characteristics of vehicles equipped with ADAS. Moreover, a control term that considers the velocity difference between the current and historical moment is selected for assistance driving. A novel framework is proposed to determine control parameters in controlled IDM-MTD. The definite integral stability method (DISM) is integrated into the framework to constrain the range of parameters that make the system stable. In the control strategy design process, this paper places significant emphasis on the implementation of the DISM modification to effectively address redundant iteration steps by exploiting the characteristic of bifurcation. Through numerical simulation, a two-dimensional optimal parameter combination is found, which not only stabilizes traffic flow but also produces minimal gasoline consumption.KEYWORDS: Intelligent driver modelminimum gasoline consumptionimproved definite integral methodbifurcation theory Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work is supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China [grant number LY22G010001] and National '111' Centre on Safety and Intelligent Operation of Sea Bridges [grant number D21013] and the K.C. Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo University, China and Healthy & Intelligent Kitchen Engineering Research Center of Zhejiang Province.