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Using Variable Speed Limits To Eliminate Wide Moving Jams: A Study Based On Three-Phase Traffic Theory

Author

Listed:
  • YIZHI WANG

    (Department of Automation, Tsinghua National Laboratory for Information, Science and Technology (TNList), Tsinghua University, Beijing, P. R. China)

  • YI ZHANG

    (Department of Automation, Tsinghua National Laboratory for Information, Science and Technology (TNList), Tsinghua University, Beijing, P. R. China)

  • JIANMING HU

    (Department of Automation, Tsinghua National Laboratory for Information, Science and Technology (TNList), Tsinghua University, Beijing, P. R. China)

  • LI LI

    (Department of Automation, Tsinghua National Laboratory for Information, Science and Technology (TNList), Tsinghua University, Beijing, P. R. China)

Abstract

One frequently observed congested traffic flow pattern is wide moving jam (WMJ), in which the average vehicle speed is very low and the density is very high. In some recent studies, variable speed limits (VSL) were proposed as effective measures to eliminate or abate the influence of jam waves. However, in most of these studies, the stochastic features of driving behaviors and the resulting uncertainty of traffic flow dynamics were not fully considered. In this paper, we use cellular automaton (CA) model-based simulations to test the performances of different VSL control strategies and apply the three-phase traffic theory to further analyze the obtained results. Based on the simulation results, we got two novel findings. Firstly, we observed seven, instead of the previously assumed six, states of traffic flow in the evolution process of WMJ, when VSL were applied. Secondly and more importantly, we found that inappropriate speed limit may induce new WMJ and exaggerate congestions in two ways: one way corresponds to anF → Jtransition and the other corresponds to anF → S → Jtransition. Based on these findings, the appropriate lower bound of VSL was finally discussed in this paper.

Suggested Citation

  • Yizhi Wang & Yi Zhang & Jianming Hu & Li Li, 2012. "Using Variable Speed Limits To Eliminate Wide Moving Jams: A Study Based On Three-Phase Traffic Theory," International Journal of Modern Physics C (IJMPC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(09), pages 1-16.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:ijmpcx:v:23:y:2012:i:09:n:s012918311250060x
    DOI: 10.1142/S012918311250060X
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Davis, L.C., 2016. "Improving traffic flow at a 2-to-1 lane reduction with wirelessly connected, adaptive cruise control vehicles," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 451(C), pages 320-332.
    2. Nishi, Ryosuke & Watanabe, Takashi, 2022. "System-size dependence of a jam-absorption driving strategy to remove traffic jam caused by a sag under the presence of traffic instability," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 600(C).

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