The Keep-Right-Except-To-Pass Rule to Solve Traffic Problems Based on Cellular Automata Model

• Published in: 2022 IEEE 5th Advanced Information Management, Communicates, Electronic and Automation Control Conference (IMCEC) Vol. 5; pp. 49 - 62
• Main Authors: Liu, Miao, Huang, Qiqi, Li, Subei, Zhao, Jianqiang
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 16.12.2022
• Subjects: Automata; Automation; car-following model; cellular automata model; Information management; Mathematical models; Matlab; Road transportation; Safety; the keep-right-except-to-pass rule; traffic flow
• ISSN: 2693-2776
• DOI: 10.1109/IMCEC55388.2022.10020070

Using the Cellular Automata Model based on the car-following model and simulating with MATLAB, this paper solves the problem of improving traffic flow under the Keep-Right-Except-To-Pass Rule based on ensuring traffic safety. The paper discusses three main problems:(1) Analyzes the performance of the right-hand traffic rule in light and heavy traffic by examining tradeoffs between traffic flow and safety, the speed limits and other factors. (2) Discuss whether the right-hand traffic rule effectively promotes better traffic flow and proposes a new rule that might promote greater traffic flow and safety. (3) Examine whether the new rule applies to the left-hand traffic countries. To solve problem 1, the paper establishes the Headway-Based Safety Spacing Model and Braking-Based Process Safety Spacing Model, gets the basic safety spacing, according to which establishes the Cellular Automata Model based on the Car-following Model to simulate Problem 1 and finds that in light traffic, the flow increases with the speed while the safety decreases; in heavy traffic, the increase of speed is easy to cause traffic jam and not good for improving traffic flow, while improving safety. To solve problem 2, an alternative rule is proposed that vehicles can overtake from both sides and need not return to the original lane after overtaking. In problem 3, the paper establishes the Cellular Automata Model based on the alternative rule to simulate the problem and compares to the simulation of the left-hand traffic rule by designing three highways with different obstacles and decides that the new rule is applicable to left-hand traffic countries and can improve traffic flow and safety.