A 1d Traffic Model with Threshold Parameters

TL;DR

This paper analyzes traffic flow using a simple one-dimensional deterministic car-following model, exploring jam formation and the influence of initial conditions on traffic patterns.

Contribution

It introduces modifications to a classic model to study jam dynamics and the effects of initial configurations on traffic flow behavior.

Findings

Jams can be generated and propagated by slow vehicles.

Initial conditions significantly affect the fundamental diagram.

Periodic systems show strong dependence on initial setup.

Abstract

The basic properties of traffic flow are analyzed using a simple deterministic one dimensional "car following model" with continuous variables based on a model introduced by Nagel and Herrmann [Physica A 199 254--269 (1993)] including a few modifications. As a first case we investigate the creation and propagation of jams in a platoon generated by a slow leading vehicle. In a second case we look at a system with the size L, periodic boundary conditions and identical vehicles. A strong dependence on the initial configuration of the fundamental diagram's shape can be found.