Abstract
This paper addresses research that is presently being conducted concerning the problem of increasing the safety and efficiency of our roadway systems. The approach used in attempting to delineate and alleviate this situation consists of the study and evaluation of traffic stream parameters and models with respect to the generation and propagation of disturbances. The distributions and values of traffic flow parameters, such as sensitivity factors, headways, spacing and kinetic energy, are examined at critical stream locations with respect to the propagation of wave disturbances within the traffic stream, for control purposes such as preventing flow breakdown.