ar X iv : 0 71 0 . 49 88 v 1 [ nl in . A O ] 2 6 O ct 2 00 7 Inter - vehicle gap statistics on the signal - controlled crossroad

We investigate a microscopical structure in a chain of cars waiting at the red signal on the signal-controlled crossroad. Presented is a one-dimensional space-continuous thermodynamical model leading to an excellent agreement with the data measured. Moreover, we demonstrate that inter-vehicle spacing distribution disclosed in relevant traffic data agrees with the thermal-balance distribution of particles in the thermodynamical traffic gas (elaborately discussed in [1]) with the high inverse temperature (corresponding to the strong traffic congestion). Therefore, as affirmed, such a system of stationary cars can be understood as a boundary state of a traffic sample moving inside a congested traffic stream.