TRAFFIC DYNAMICS: STUDIES IN CAR FOLLOWING

THE MANNER IN WHICH VEHICLES FOLLOW EACH OTHER ON A HIGHWAY (WITHOUT PASSING) AND THE PROPAGATION DISTURBANCES DOWN A LINE OF VEHICLES HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED. EXPERIMENTAL DATA IS PRESENTED WHICH INDICATES THAT THE ACCELERATION AT TIME T OF A CAR WHICH IS ATTEMPTING TO FOLLOW A LEADER IS PROPORTIONAL TO THE DIFFERENCE IN VELOCITY OF THE TWO CARS AT A TIME (T-DELTA), DELTA BEING ABOUT 1.5 SECONDS AND THE PROPORTIONALITY CONSTANT BEING ABOUT 0.37/SECOND. IT IS SHOWN THEORETICALLY THAT THE MOTION OF A LONG LINE OF VEHICLES BECOMES UNSTABLE WHEN THE PRODUCT OF THE LAG TIME AND THE PROPORTIONALITY CONSTANT EXCEEDS ONE-HALF. THE EXPERIMENTAL DATA IMPLIES THAT DRIVING IS DONE ON THE VERGE OF INSTABILITY. A VARIETY OF OTHER LAWS OF FOLLOWING IS ANALYZED THEORETICALLY. /AUTHOR/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 6, No 2, PP 165-184, 2 FIG, 1 TAB, 10 REF
• Authors:
  • Chandler, R E
  • Herman, R
  • Montroll, E W
• Publication Date: 1958-3

Media Info

• Serial:
  • OPERATIONS RESEARCH
  • Publisher: NEWELL, GORDON F.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceleration (Mechanics); Car following; Dynamics; Emergency response time; Reaction time; Traffic control; Vehicles; Velocity measurement
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00225258
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 13 1994 12:00AM