DISTRIBUTION OF GAPS AND BLOCKS IN A TRAFFIC STREAM

A GAP IN THE TRAFFIC STREAM IS DEFINED AS A HEADWAY BETWEEN VEHICLES GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO SOME MINIMUM SIZE. THE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION OF THE WAIT THAT A RANDOMLY LOCATED OBSERVER MUST ENDURE BEFORE HE FINDS A GAP IS REVIEWED. THIS PAPER IS CONCERNED WITH: (1) THE DISTRIBUTION OF GAP SIZES, (2) THE DISTRIBUTION OF SPACINGS BETWEEN VEHICLES AND GAPS, (3) THE MEAN AND VARIANCE OF INTERVEHICLE AND INTERGAP SPACINGS, (4) THE STATIONARY FLOW RATES OF GAPS, AND (5) THE DISTRIBUTION OF BLOCKED AND UNBLOCKED PERIODS. IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE ORIGIN OF MEASUREMENTS MAY BE LOCATED WITH THE PASSING OF A VEHICLE, AT THE BEGINNING OF A GAP, OR AT RANDOM. IT IS ALSO ASSUMED THAT THE DISTRIBUTION OF INTERVEHICLE SPACINGS ARE INDEPENDENTLY, BUT IDENTICALLY, DISTRIBUTED RANDOM VARIABLES. /AUTHOR/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 10, No 2, PP 197-217, 4 FIG, 2 TAB, 14 REF
• Authors:
  • Oliver, R M
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Serial:
  • OPERATIONS RESEARCH
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: NEWELL, GORDON F.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Gap acceptance; Headways; Measurement; Passing; Physical distribution; Randomization; Spacing; Traffic flow; Vehicles
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Freight Transportation; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00227118
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 13 2004 6:56PM