Car-following theory is one of the most widely used models to explain how vehicles
follow one another in a traffic stream. The theory was first developed in the 1950s and continues to be developed today. In general, the relative simple and common driving task of one vehicle following another on a straight roadway where there is no passing can be categorized in three specific subtasks:
• Perception: the driver collects relevant information mainly through the visual channel. This information arises primarily from the motion of the lead vehicle and the driver’s vehicle.
• Decision Making: a driver interprets the information obtained by sampling and integrates it over time in order to provide adequate updating of inputs.
• Control: The skilled driver can execute control commands with dexterity, smoothness, and coordination, constantly relying on feedback from his own responses which are superimposed on the dynamics of car-following system.