Real highway traffic simulations based on a cellular automata model

In this paper we present results relative of our cellular automata simulation on Italian highway traffic. Based on the previous two lane highway model that we have realised some time ago this is a three lane model without periodic boundary conditions. In particular this model has on and off-ramps; it provides drivers with an unbound braking ability in order to avoid car accidents and it can take account of road works and lane reductions. It implements the Nagel and Schreckemberg rules and it can reproduce well known experimental phenomena observed in real traffic, such as the typical three regions in the fundamental plot, lane inversion or jams that propagate backward like waves.