Effect of desired speed variability on highway traffic flow

摘要: Traffic flow is a function of many natural, environmental, and human factors. Not only that weather road condition can vary, but drivers' decisions policies also affect the flow. Here we analyze effect distribution desired speeds. We show broader reduce efficiency increase congestions. Since different drivers react differently to changes in or conditions, such change leads speed as well. As result, nonintuitive traffic may occur. Besides providing insight analyzing underlying mechanism collective phenomenon, this example sheds light on fundamental aspect computational modeling. Although "mean-field" models deal with average values ignore variability are simpler easier analyze, they very easily turn into oversimplifications miss relevant qualitative phenomena.