Car-Following: Cars maintain a safe bumper-to-bumper distance based on their speed and the
'Cautiousness' setting.
Lane Changes: Cars only change lanes if they are being slowed down and there is a safe,
advantageous gap.
Aggression: The 'Lane Change Aggression' slider determines how small of a gap a car is willing to
accept when merging.
Simulation Controls
Controls the desired following time. Higher values mean larger, safer gaps
between cars.
Determines how small of a gap a car will accept to change lanes. Lower values are
more aggressive.
Controls the maximum braking strength of the cars. Higher values mean more
aggressive braking.
Detailed Simulation Rules
General Rules
Cars operate on a circular, three-lane motorway.
Each car has a unique "personality" in the form of a preferred maximum speed, which is slightly
different from the global average set by the slider.
Speed and Following (Car-Following Model)
Acceleration: Cars attempt to accelerate to their personal maximum speed. Their acceleration
rate decreases as they approach their top speed.
Following Distance: Cars maintain a safe bumper-to-bumper distance from the vehicle
directly in front of them. This calculation correctly accounts for the physical length of the cars.
Desired Gap: The safe following distance is composed of two parts: a small, fixed minimum
distance (to prevent overlapping at a standstill) and a variable distance that increases with the
car's current speed and the global "Cautiousness" parameter.
Deceleration: A car will brake if its actual following distance is less than its calculated
desired gap. The braking force becomes exponentially stronger as the gap shrinks. The overall
strength of this braking is controlled by the "Deceleration" slider.
Lane Changing
Motivation: A car is motivated to change lanes only when it is being slowed down by a slower
vehicle ahead.
Safety & Aggression: Before merging, a car checks for a safe gap in the target lane. The
required size of the gap behind it is determined by the "Lane Change Aggression" slider; a
more aggressive setting allows the car to accept a smaller, tighter gap.
Improvement: A lane change is only performed if the new lane offers a significant advantage
(i.e., the traffic is much clearer).
Constant Awareness: Cars continue to apply all acceleration and deceleration rules even while
in the middle of a lane change, preventing them from colliding with other cars during the maneuver.