Kinetic Theory of Vehicular Traffic: Comparison with Data

The steady-state solution of a kinetic theory of vehicular traffic developed to describe the time and space evolution of the speed distribution of cars on a multiple-lane highway has been examined in the light of some observational data. A method of moments has been employed to compare the theory with the data. The order of magnitude agreement obtained between the theoretically predicted ratios of lower moments and the ratios determined from the provisional data indicates that the theoretical approach and assumptions are reasonable and consistent.