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Mechanical Restriction versus Human Overreaction Triggering Congested Traffic States

Hyun Keun Lee, Robert Barlovic, Michael Schreckenberg, and Doochul Kim
Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 238702 – Published 10 June 2004
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Abstract

A new cellular automaton traffic model is presented. The focus is on mechanical restrictions of vehicles realized by limited acceleration and deceleration capabilities. These features are incorporated into the model in order to construct the condition of collision-free movement. The strict collision-free criterion imposed by the mechanical restrictions is softened in certain traffic situations, reflecting human overreaction. It is shown that the present model reliably reproduces most empirical findings including synchronized flow, the so-called pinch effect, and the time-headway distribution of free flow. The findings suggest that many free flow phenomena can be attributed to the platoon formation of vehicles (platoon effect).

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  • Received 10 September 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.238702

©2004 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Hyun Keun Lee1, Robert Barlovic2, Michael Schreckenberg2, and Doochul Kim1

  • 1School of Physics, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea
  • 2Theoretische Physik Fakultät 4, Universität Duisburg-Essen, D-47048 Duisburg, Germany

See Also

The Computer Minds the Commuter

JR Minkel
Phys. Rev. Focus 13, 26 (2004)

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Issue

Vol. 92, Iss. 23 — 11 June 2004

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