A New Car-Following Model with Consideration of Dynamic Safety Distance

• Published in: Discrete dynamics in nature and society Vol. 2018; no. 2018; pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: Xu, Keyu, Li, Guangyao, Zhang, Jing, Wang, Tao, Li, Shu-bin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2018; Hindawi; Hindawi Limited; Wiley
• Subjects: Car following; Computer simulation; Crashworthiness; Driving conditions; Dynamic stability; Flow stability; Impact strength; Manufacturing cells; Numerical methods; Phase diagrams; Safety and security measures; Traffic congestion; Traffic flow; Traffic models; Traffic safety; Velocity
• ISSN: 1026-0226; 1607-887X
• DOI: 10.1155/2018/5326947

In the traditional optimal velocity model, safe distance is usually a constant, which, however, is not representative of actual traffic conditions. This paper attempts to study the impact of dynamic safety distance on vehicular stream through a car-following model. Firstly, a new car-following model is proposed, in which the traditional safety distance is replaced by a dynamic term. Then, the phase diagram in the headway, speed, and sensitivity spaces is given to illustrate the impact of a variable safe distance on traffic flow. Finally, numerical methods are conducted to examine the performance of the proposed model with regard to two aspects: compared with the optimal velocity model, the new model can suppress traffic congestion effectively and, for different safety distances, the dynamic safety distance can improve the stability of vehicular stream. Simulation results suggest that the new model is able to enhance traffic flow stability.