Slow-to-start effect in two-dimensional traffic flow

Abstract

This paper studies slow-to-start effect in two-dimensional Biham–Middleton–Levine (BML) traffic flow model with traffic light periods T = 2 τ . In most cases, the model exhibits free flow, jam, and phase separation phenomenon. Nevertheless, when the slow-to-start parameter p = 0 , and traffic light parameter τ = 3 or 5, it is found that phase separation phenomenon does not occur. We have explained this via the evolution process from a designed regular initial configuration. Moreover, it is also found that the free flow self-organizes into grid-like structure when τ is large and the slow-to-start parameter 0 < p < 1 .