Effect of individual differences on the jamming transition in traffic flow.

Abstract

The individual difference, particularly in drivers' distance perception, is introduced in the microscopic one-dimensional optimal velocity model to investigate its effect on the onset of the jamming instability seen in traffic systems. We show analytically and numerically that the individual difference helps to inhibit the traffic jam at high vehicle densities while it promotes jamming transition at low vehicle densities. In addition, the jamming mechanism is further investigated by tracking how the spatial disturbance travels through traffics. We find that the jamming instability is uniquely determined by the overall distribution of drivers' distance perception rather than the spatial ordering of vehicles. Finally, a generalized form of the optimal velocity function is considered to show the universality of the effect of the individual difference.