Vehicular traffic: A system of interacting particles driven far from equilibrium

In recent years statistical physicists have developed discrete 'partide-hop ping' models of vehicular traffic, usually formulated in terms of cellular automata, which are similar to the microscopic models of interacting charge d particles in the presence of an external electric field. Concepts and tec hniques of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics are being used to understa nd the nature of the steady states and fluctuations in these so-called micr oscopic models. In this brief review we explain, primarily to nonexperts, t hese models and the physical implications of the results.