Research on Traffic Behavior in the Presence of Lane Merging Using Traffic Simulation

Lane merging is a common occurrence in the road network due to various reasons. Reduction of lanes leads to the decrease of road capacity, and therefore influences the traffic flow. This paper studies the phenomena of lane merging using a simple setting simulation of motor traffic and the effect of priority rules, banning lane changing, and vehicles speeds. Results generated from the simulation have shown different effects depending on priority rules applied, lane changing, and road layout. The findings can provide insights for road designers what they might expect to happen for different situations that require reducing lanes due to various reasons.