STEADY-STATE PROPERTIES OF TRAFFIC FLOWS

The role of the passing mechanism in traffic flows is examined. Specif ically, we consider passing rates that are proportional to the differe nce between the velocities of the passing car and the passed car. From a Boltzmann equation approach, steady-state properties of the Bow suc h as the flux. average cluster size, and velocity distributions are fo und analytically. We show that a single dimensionless parameter determ ines the nature of the Bow and helps distinguish between dilute and de nse flows. For dilute Bows, perturbation expressions are obtained, whi le for dense flows a boundary layer analysis is carried out. In the la tter case. extremal properties of the initial velocity distribution un derly the leading scaling asymptotic behaviour. For dense flows, the s tationary velocity distribution exhibits a rich 'triple-deck' boundary layer structure. Furthermore, in this regime fluctuations in the flux may become extremely large.