Simulation of Traffic Flow to Analyze Lane Changes on Multi-lane Highways under Non-lane Discipline

The present study uses the microscopic traffic simulation flow model VISSIM for generating traffic flow data to obtain the essential parameters. Study calibrated and validated the VISSIM model based on the field data. Further, lane change behaviour is analyzed with homogeneous vehicle type traffic on four-lane, six-lane and eight-lane divided highways sections through VISSIM simulation model. The study finds the number of lane changes depends on traffic volume as well as on a number of lanes provided for a direction of travel. Lane change data was correlated with traffic volume, and the third-degree polynomial trend was found to be fitted on each type of simulated highway sections. A maximum number of lane changes and lane change at the capacity level of the volume are also quantified on simulated sections of four-lane, six-lane and eight-lane divided highways.