From lane-less to lane-free: Implications in the era of automated vehicles
Recently published
Recently published:
Beza, Abebe Dress, Zhuopeng Xie, Mohsen Ramezani, David Levinson (2025) From lane-less to lane-free: Implications in the era of automated vehicles. Transportation Research part C. Volume 170, January 2025, 104898 [doi]
Highlights
Reviews methods for modeling and analyzing lane-less traffic.
Provides a methodological review for lane-free traffic control.
Illustrates the potential impact of lane-less and lane-free traffic.
Discusses insights from lane-less traffic modeling for lane-free traffic control.
Abstract
Advances in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology and research into connected autonomous vehicle (CAV) technology have renewed interest in lane-free traffic. The present study reviews a large body of scientific literature to explore the potential impacts of lane-less and lane-free traffic streams and examines the control strategies and trends of lane-free traffic through the lens of future transport. The findings indicate that lane-free traffic has the potential to positively impact road traffic, including an increase in traffic performance and a rise in road infrastructure capacity due to efficient space use and the seepage behavior of small-sized vehicles (e.g., motorized two-wheelers) in mixed traffic scenarios. Furthermore, studies on lane-less traffic with human-driven vehicles can provide essential insights into the potential behavior of lane-free AV traffic and how AVs might be programmed and designed to operate safely and effectively in complex settings. For instance, a lane-free traffic setting could be a better option for improving traffic flow when AVs vary in size, and seepage behavior can be incorporated into the driving characteristics of AVs.
