Study on asymmetric two-lane traffic model based on cellular automata

Abstract

With the consideration of driver's velocity preference, we redefine the velocity updating rules of NaSch model and extend them to an asymmetric two-lane cellular automaton model with a recently proposed lane changing rule set. The analysis focuses on the reproduction of empirically observed results and the relations between empirical results and vehicle plugs. Vehicle plug is a structured vehicle set which slows down the traffic flow and it is also a bridge from microscopic to macroscopic level. Simulation results show that encouraging lane changes have little effect on decomposing vehicle plugs. In order to decrease plugs we should keep slow vehicles out of expressway or make a flexible overtaking ban of slow vehicle according to practical situations. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.