Statistical Analysis of Freeway Traffic

Single-vehicle data of freeway traffic as well as selected Floating-Car (FC) data are analyzed in great detail. Traffic states are distinguished by means of aggregated data. We propose a method for a quantitative classification of these states. The data of individual vehicles allows for insights into the interaction of vehicles. The time-headway distribution reveals a characteristic structure dominated by peaks and controlled by the underlying traffic states. The tendency to reach a pleasant level of ``driving comfort'' gives rise to new $v(\Delta x)$-diagrams, known as Optimal-Velocity (OV) curves. The insights found at locally fixed detectors can be confirmed by FC data. In fundamental diagrams derived from local measurements interesting high-flow states can be observed.
Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, uses Springer Macros 'lncse', to appear in "Traffic and Granular Flow '99: Social, Traffic, and Granular Dynamics" edited by D. Helbing, H. J. Herrmann, M. Schreckenberg, and D. E. Wolf (Springer, Berlin)