https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2006-00300-1
How human drivers control their vehicle
Institute of Transport Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
Corresponding author: a peter.wagner@dlr.de
Received:
12
January
2006
Revised:
17
March
2006
Published online:
31
July
2006
The data presented here show that human drivers apply a discrete noisy control mechanism to drive their vehicle. A car-following model built on these observations, together with some physical limitations (crash-freeness, acceleration), lead to non-Gaussian probability distributions in the speed difference and distance which are in good agreement with empirical data. All model parameters have a clear physical meaning and can be measured. Despite its apparent complexity, this model is simple to understand and might serve as a starting point to develop even quantitatively correct models.
PACS: 45.05.+x – General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2006