Multiple-vehicle collision induced by a sudden stop in traffic flow

We study the dynamic process of the multiple-vehicle collision when a vehicle stops suddenly in a traffic flow. We apply the optimal-velocity model to the vehicular motion. If a vehicle does not decelerate successfully, it crashes into the vehicle ahead with a residual speed. The collision criterion is presented by vi(t)/Δxi(t)→∞ if Δxi(t)→0 where vi(t) and Δxi(t) are the speed and headway of vehicle i at time t. The number of crumpled vehicles depends on the initial velocity, the sensitivity, and the initial headway. We derive the region map (or phase diagram) for the multiple-vehicle collision. ► We studied the dynamic process of the multiple-vehicle collision in traffic flow. ► We presented the collision criterion that a vehicle comes into collision with the vehicle in front. ► We clarified the dependence of the multiple-vehicle collision on the density and sensitivity.