Studies of traffic flow phenomena using the VEDENS computer code

The VEDENS computer code models traffic flows on unidirectional, multilane highways, including on- and off-ramps. The logic behind the code is explained, including driver decision making. Calculations have been carried out for from 1- to 6-lane flow. The fundamental flow diagram has been plotted for all lane configurations and calculations of saturation behaviour have been made for on-ramp and off-ramp flows and short-term, total blockages. It is concluded that the efficiency of a highway decreases significantly when the number of lanes is increased to more than four. Increasing the number of lanes is beneficial for on-ramp flows, but increasing the number to more than three has no effect on the maximum capacity when 20% or more of the vehicles desire to exit via a given off-ramp. When the highway becomes totally blocked for a short time, the evolution of the node of stationary traffic can be predicted.