Simulation study of traffic circle intersection with traffic lights

Using the Nagel-Schreckenberg model, we investigate the flow characteristics in a traffic circle system, where the entry lanes are controlled by traffic lights operating in a fixed-time (T). We considered four different strategies to control traffic coming from N entry lanes. We found that depending on the strategy used, four distinct traffic phases can appear in the circulating lane of the traffic circle, namely free flow, congestion, maximum current, and gridlock. Also, we investigate the origin of the gridlock phase in both cases (i.e. with/without traffic lights). Furthermore, the lengths of queues of stopped vehicles in the entry lanes were studied. We found that the traffic flow behavior on the exit/entry lanes depends strongly on the flow characteristics at the circulating lane as well as traffic lights strategy. To improve the operation of the traffic circle system, we have studied the time delay between the traffic lights to switch where all entry lanes go red, which allowing vehicles to clear the circulating lane.