MULTILANE TRAFFIC FLOW PROCESS: EVALUATION OF QUEUING AND LANE-CHANGING PATTERNS

This paper presents a queue-theoretical model for describing traffic flow on a dual two-lane motorway. The model is based on the theory of stationary Markov processes and is closely related to data collection methods made possible by specially developed recording equipment. The model is based on a description of the driver's behavior in traffic. The individual driver alternates between driving under free-flow conditions (state F) at his or her desired speed and without delay and driving in a queue (state K) with consequent delay. To escape from or possible entirely avoid a queue, a driver must change lanes (alternate between lane 1 and lane 2). The behavior of the driver is thus described by a variable that assumes the discrete values 1F, 2F, and 2K. This process can be described as a Markov process. The reactions of individual drivers are summed up in a comprehensive description of the average driver's behavior, so that the road traffic model developed is an example of a macrostochastic model. A technique has been developed by which the parameters in the Markov process can be estimated from the collected data, and the paper describes how the model becomes part of a detailed investigation into the vital conditions affecting motorway traffic, e.g. capacity, relationship between speed and traffic volume, and the drivers' use of the motorway.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/596/596-005.pdf
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=MULTILANE+TRAFFIC+FLOW+PROCESS%3a+EVALUATION+OF+QUEUING+AND+LANE-CHANGING+PATTERNS&author=J.+R%c3%b8rbech&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Highway Capacity and Quality of Service and Committee on Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Rørbech, Jens
• Discussers:
  • Bullen, AGR
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 22-29
• Monograph Title: Flow theory
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 596
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Data collection; Drivers; Lane changing; Markov processes; Mathematical models; Multilane highways; Queuing theory; Reaction time; Traffic flow; Two lane highways
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction; Models
• Old TRIS Terms: Queueing theory
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149116
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025656
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 13 1977 12:00AM