A theoretical model is being developed for explaining and describing the distribution of traffic volumes to the individual lanes of two-lane and three-lane unidirectional roadways. The model is based on two equations. The first of these contains the condition of equilibrium for the balance of changeovers between two lanes, and the second is a differential equation which describes the change in the proportion of the traffic volume on a single lane as a result of an infinitesimally small growth in the overall traffic volume. An interim result shows that the proportion of vehicles travelling in the right-hand lane of a two-lane unidirectional roadway is equal to the probability of a vehicle in the left-hand lane making a change to the right. The model allows some insight into the characteristics of the capacity of multilane roadways. The results of the theoretical model are compared with empirical data. Throughout the paper, German traffic regulations such as the driving to the right rule (instead of the keep in lane rule) are assumed. (A)
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