Explanation of Observed Features of Self-Organization in Traffic Flow

TL;DR

This paper explains the transition from free to synchronized and stop-and-go traffic patterns using simulations of an intelligent driver model, aligning well with empirical observations.

Contribution

It provides a microscopic traffic model that quantitatively reproduces observed traffic phenomena and transitions.

Findings

Reproduces the pinch effect and flow-density relationships.

Simulates emergence of stop-and-go waves from congested traffic.

Achieves nearly quantitative agreement with empirical data.

Abstract

Based on simulations with the ``intelligent driver model'', a microscopic traffic model, we explain the recently discovered transition from free over ``synchronized'' traffic to stop-and-go patterns [B. S. Kerner, Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 3797 (1998)]. We obtain a nearly quantitative agreement with empirical findings such as the ``pinch effect'', the flow-density diagram, the emergence of stop-and-go waves from nonhomogeneous congested traffic, and the dimensions of their wavelength.