Two-Component Traffic Modelled by Cellular Automata: Imposing Passing Restrictions on Slow Vehicles Increases the Flow

摘要

We use a computer-based cellular automaton to study two-component flow, mimicking (fast) passenger and (slow) cargo vehicles, on a circular unidirectional two-lane highway without on-ramps and exits. The global flow rates for different overall densities and mixing ratios between fast and slow cars are determined. We study two main scenarios: two-component traffic without passing restriction (uncontrolled flow) and traffic in which slow vehicles are prohibited to pass (controlled flow). We find that controlling the flow should considerably increase multi-lane highway capacity.