A Car-Following Model Based on the Distribution Characteristic of Headway

To model car-following behavior and make the model extend easily from micro-behavior to macro traffic phenomenon, we use headway as the drivers' decision variable for changing velocity and establish the car-following model. First, the universe of running vehicles is divided into car-following and free driving with the two-fluid theory for reference. The mixed distribution model is presented to describe the characteristic of measured headway distribution. Second, the parameters correlated with car-following behavior are selected from the mixed distribution model and used to design the car-following model. The established car-following model simulated individual vehicle actions with comparing headway changing and the driver's expecting to adjust the velocity of vehicle. Finally, verified the effect of car-following model with numerical simulations. The results showed that the car-following model can simulate individual vehicle behavior in many situations effectively and reflects the status of macro traffic platoon in some extent with combining dynamic multi-individual vehicles.