ABSTRACT
This contribution presents a realistic cellular automaton model for multi-lane traffic, based on the model proposed by Lee et al. (2004). In contrast to current approaches, a limited deceleration capability, i.e., a mechanical restriction, has been assigned to the vehicles. Moreover, the velocity of the vehicles was determined on the basis of the local neighborhood, and the drivers were thus divided into optimistic or pessimistic drivers. The former were prone to underestimating their safety distance if their neighborhood admitted it, whereas the latter always kept a safe distance, thus over-reacting. This resulted in a convincing reproduction of the microscopic and macroscopic features of synchronized traffic. The anticipation of the leader’s velocity was thereby essential for the reproduction of synchronized traffic. Nevertheless, accidents occurred in the stationary state, and thus, the model approach required modification so as to be capable of simulating multi-lane traffic. The adapted model was enhanced by a realistic lane-change algorithm, and a multi-lane model, reproducing the empirical data even better than the single-lane approach, was formulated. In open systems with bottlenecks, such as an on-ramp or a speed-limit, the empirically observed complex structures of the synchronized traffic could be reproduced in great detail.
