DISTRIBUTION OF TRAFFIC TO THE INDIVIDUAL LANES ON MULTILANE UNIDIRECTIONAL ROADWAYS

A theoretical model is being developed for explaining and describ the distribution of traffic volumes to the individual lanes of two-lane and three-lane unidirectional roadways. The model is ba on two equations. The first of these contains the condition of equilibrium for the balance ofchangeovers between two lanes, and second is a differential equation which describes the change in t proportion of the traffic volume on a single lane as a result of infinitesimally small growth in the overall traffic volume. An interim result shows that the proportion of vehicles travelling i the right-hand lane of a two-lane unidirectional roadway is equal the probability of a vehicle in the left-hand lane making a chang the right. The model allows some insight into the characteristic the capacity of multilane roadways. The results of the theoretic model are compared with empirical data. Throughout the paper, Ge traffic regulations such as the driving to the right rule (instea the keep in lane rule) are assumed. (a)