Cellular automata model under Kerner’s framework of three-phase traffic theory considering the effect of forward–backward vehicles in internet of vehicles

In consideration of the effect of forward–backward vehicles in the internet of vehicles, a Modified Velocity Difference Effect (MVDE) model based on Kerner’s three-phase traffic theory is developed, modeled from the micro level of traffic flow, and put into simulation to get the optimized results. The result shows that the MVDE model manifests a preferable outcome of synchronized flow under the framework of three-phase traffic theory. Meanwhile, through the control variable method, this paper studies the impact on the traffic flow’s performance on single-lane road of three factors, which are network penetration probability, forward and backward driving control probability, and drivers’ characteristics. It also focuses on the improvement effect of introducing vehicle-to-vehicle network communication to the traffic flow, and demonstrated the significant role of vehicle network technology in solving urban traffic problems.