Simon–Gutowitz bidirectional traffic model revisited

Abstract

The Simon–Gutowitz bidirectional traffic model [P.M. Simon, H.A. Gutowitz, Phys. Rev. E 57 (1998) 2441] is revisited in this Letter. We found that passing cars get stuck with oncoming cars before returning to their home lanes. This provokes the occurrence of wide jams on both lanes. We have rectified the rules for lane changing. Then, the wide jams disappear and the revisited model can describe well the realistic bidirectional traffic.