Simon-Gutowitz bidirectional traffic model revisited

TL;DR

This paper revisits the Simon-Gutowitz bidirectional traffic model, correcting lane-changing rules to eliminate unrealistic wide jams and improve the model's realism in simulating bidirectional traffic flow.

Contribution

The authors identified flaws in the original model's lane-changing rules and proposed corrections that enhance its ability to realistically simulate bidirectional traffic.

Findings

Wide jams are eliminated after rule correction.

Revised model accurately reproduces realistic traffic flow.

Original model's flaws are addressed successfully.

Abstract

The Simon-Gutowitz bidirectional traffic model (Phys. Rev. E 57, 2441 (1998)) is revisited in this letter. We found that passing cars get stuck with oncoming cars before returning to their home lanes. This provokes the occurrence of wide jams on both lanes. We have rectified the rules for lane changing. Then, the wide jams disappear and the revisited model can describe well the realistic bidirectional traffic.