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State DOT recommendations for calibration against field observations, not universal validity limits. A dash means not specified; recommended values, defaults, and distributions are identified separately.
Guidance documents and publication years
Dates are from the document editions, not upload dates. Web guidance without a dated PDF is identified separately.
| Agency | Year | Guidance document / edition |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia DOT | 2020 | January 2020; VISSIM User Guide v2.0 |
| Wisconsin DOT | 2021 | March 30, 2021; VISSIM Calibration Settings |
| Oregon DOT | 2011 | June 2011; Protocol for VISSIM Simulation |
| Washington State DOT | 2014 | September 2014; Protocol for VISSIM Simulation |
| Maryland SHA | 2017 | August 2017; VISSIM Modeling Guidance |
| Florida DOT | 2026 | June 2026; Traffic Analysis Handbook |
| Iowa DOT | 2017 | October 18, 2017; Microsimulation Guidance v1.0 |
| Michigan DOT | 2020 | August 14, 2020; VISSIM Protocol v1.1 |
| Colorado DOT | 2018 | July 2018; Traffic Analysis and Forecasting Guidelines |
| Kentucky Transportation Cabinet | 2021 | November 2021; Microsimulation Guidelines |
| Nevada DOT | 2024 | December 2024; Microsimulation Guidelines |
| Missouri DOT | Web guidance | Live Engineering Policy Guide; no PDF publication year assigned |
| Utah DOT | Web guidance | Undated; Freeway Driving Behavior Parameters |
| Texas DOT | Web guidance | Undated; Traffic and Safety Analysis Procedures Manual, 13.5 |
Driving behavior parameters - Wiedemann 74 (w74)
| Parameter Name | Default | Range (VDOT 2020) | Range (WisDOT 2021) | Range (Oregon DOT 2011) | Range (WSDOT 2014) | Range (Maryland SHA 2017) | Range (FDOT 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AX: Average Standstill Distance | 6.56 ft 2 m |
3.28 - 6.56 | 3.28 - 9.84 | N/A | N/A | 3.28 - 6.56 | >3.28 |
| BXadd: Additive part of safety distance | 2 | 2.0 - 2.2 | 1 - 3.75 | N/A | N/A | 2.0 - 2.2 | 1 - 3.5 |
| BXmult: Multiplic. part of safety distance | 3 | 2.8 - 3.3 | 2 - 4.75 | N/A | N/A | 2.8 - 3.3 | 2 - 4.5 |
Additional state guidance - W74
| Parameter | Default | Iowa DOT 2017 | Michigan DOT 2020 | MoDOT web guide | CDOT 2018 | KYTC 2021 | NDOT 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AX: Average standstill distance | 6.56 ft 2 m | >3.28 | 3.28 to 6.56 | - | 3.28 to 6.56 | Composite distributions4 | - |
| BXadd: Additive part of safety distance | 2 | 1 to 3.55 | 2.0 to 2.2 | - | 2.0 to 2.2 | - | - |
| BXmult: Multiplicative part of safety distance | 3 | 2 to 4.55 | 2.8 to 3.3 | - | 2.8 to 3.3 | - | - |
Driving behavior parameters - Wiedemann 99 (w99)
| Parameter Name | Default | Range (VDOT 2020) | Range (WisDOT 2021) | Range (Oregon DOT 2011) | Range (WSDOT 2014) | Range (Maryland SHA 2017) | Range (FDOT 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC0: Standstill Distance | 4.92 ft 1.5 m |
Basic: 4.5 - 5.5 Weave/Merge/Diverge: >4.92 |
Basic: 4.0 - 5.5 Weave/Merge/Diverge: >4.92 |
Basic: 4.5 - 5.5 Weave/Merge/Diverge: >4.92 |
Basic: 4.5 - 5.5 Weave/Merge/Diverge: >4.92 |
Basic: 4.5 - 5.5 Weave/Merge/Diverge: >4.92 |
Basic: >4 Weave/Merge/Diverge: >4.92 |
| CC1: Headway Time | 0.9 s | Basic: 0.85 - 1.05 Weave/Merge/Diverge: 0.9 - 1.5 |
Basic: 0.7 - 3.0 Weave/Merge/Diverge: 0.9 - 3.0 |
Basic: 0.85 - 1.05 Weave/Merge/Diverge: 0.9 - 1.5 |
Basic: 0.85 - 1.05 Weave/Merge/Diverge: 0.9 - 1.5 |
Basic: 0.85 - 1.05 Weave/Merge/Diverge: 0.8 - 1.5 |
Basic: 0.7 - 3 Weave/Merge/Diverge: 0.9 - 3 |
| CC2: Following Variation | 13.12 ft 4 m |
Basic: 6.56 - 22.97 Weave/Merge/Diverge: 13.12 - 39.37 |
Basic: 6.56 - 22.97 Weave/Merge/Diverge: 13.12 - 39.37 |
Basic: 6.56 - 22.97 Weave/Merge/Diverge: 13.12 - 39.37 |
Basic: 6.56 - 22.97 Weave/Merge/Diverge: 13.12 - 39.37 |
Basic: 6.56 - 22.97 Weave/Merge/Diverge: 13.12 - 39.37* |
Basic: 6.56 - 22.97 Weave/Merge/Diverge: 13.12 - 39.37 |
| CC3: Threshold for Entering "Following" | -8 | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default |
| CC4: Negative "Following" Threshold | -0.35 | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default |
| CC5: Positive "Following" Threshold | 0.35 | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default |
| CC6: Speed Dependency of Oscillation | 11.44 | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default |
| CC7: Oscillation Acceleration | 0.82 ft/s2 0.25 m/s2 |
Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default |
| CC8: Standstill Acceleration | 11.48 ft/s2 3.5 m/s2 |
Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default |
| CC9: Acceleration at 80 km/h | 4.92 ft/s2 1.5 m/s2 |
Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default |
* The Maryland guidance lists the CC2 upper value as 39.27 ft. Because the other referenced agencies list 39.37 ft, the Maryland value is most likely a typographical error; 39.37 ft is shown in the table.
Additional state guidance - W99
| Parameter | Default | Iowa DOT 2017 | Michigan DOT 2020 | MoDOT web guide | CDOT 2018 | KYTC 2021 | NDOT 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC0: Standstill distance | 4.92 ft 1.5 m | Basic: >4.00 Weave/merge/diverge: >4.92 | Basic: 4.5 to 5.5 Merge/diverge: >4.92 | Basic: 4.5 to 5.5 Weave/merge/diverge: >4.92 | Basic: 4.5 to 5.5 Weave/merge/diverge: >4.92 | - | - |
| CC1: Headway time | 0.9 s | Basic: 0.7 to 3.0 Weave/merge/diverge: 0.9 to 3.0 | Basic: 0.85 to 1.05 Merge/diverge: 0.90 to 1.50 | Basic: 0.70 to 3.00 Weave/merge/diverge: 0.90 to 3.00 | Basic: 0.85 to 1.05 Weave/merge/diverge: 0.90 to 1.50 | 0.7 to 1.6 | Overall: 0.75 to 1.30 Basic: 0.70 to 1.20 Merge/diverge: 0.75 to 1.30 Weave: 0.80 to 1.30 |
| CC2: Following variation | 13.12 ft 4 m | Basic: 6.56 to 22.97 Weave/merge/diverge: 13.12 to 39.37 | Basic: 6.56 to 22.97 Merge/diverge: 13.12 to 39.37 | Basic: 6.56 to 22.97 Weave/merge/diverge: 13.12 to 39.37 | Basic: 6.56 to 22.97 Weave/merge/diverge: 13.12 to 39.37 | - | - |
| CC3 through CC7 | CC3: -8 CC4: -0.35 CC5: 0.35 CC6: 11.44 CC7: 0.82 ft/s2 | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | - | - |
| CC8: Standstill acceleration | 11.48 ft/s2 3.5 m/s2 | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | 9.2 (recommended value) | - |
| CC9: Acceleration at 50 mph | 4.92 ft/s2 1.5 m/s2 | Use default | Use default | Use default | Use default | 4.5 (recommended value) | - |
4 KYTC recommends three W74 standstill-distance distributions with weights 35%, 40%, and 25%: urban means 6, 9, and 11.5 ft; rural means 7, 10, and 13.5 ft. These are not a single AX min/max range. KYTC's CC8 and CC9 entries are recommended values, not ranges.
5 Iowa links the W74 parameters: BXmult = BXadd + 1.
Kentucky and Nevada caution against applying below-default CC1 values broadly. Nevada also provides a separate CC1 distribution spanning 0.50 to 2.00 s; its endpoints are not the scalar ranges above. Iowa and Nevada entries were checked against indexed PDF text; direct downloads were unavailable during review.
Utah DOT (web guidance, undated) recommends CC1 = 1.3 s as a starting value and normally retaining CC2 = 13.12 ft; these are not min/max ranges. Texas DOT (web guidance, undated) discusses CC0, CC1, CC2 and lane-change calibration without a numeric behavior-range table in the reviewed section.
Driving behavior parameters - Lane change
Recommended ranges and settings from the linked guides, for freeway and arterial lane changes. A dash means no tabulated recommended range or setting is provided for that parameter; it does not mean zero. “Field-based” means adjust to match field observations.
| Parameter name | Unit | Range (VDOT 2020) | Range (WisDOT 2021) | Range (Oregon DOT 2011) | Range (WSDOT 2014) | Range (Maryland SHA 2017) | Range (FDOT 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General lane-change behavior | - | - | Free lane selection or slow lane rule | Free lane selection | Free lane selection | Free lane selection | - |
| Maximum deceleration - own vehicle | ft/s2 | - | -15 to -12 | -15 to -12 | -15 to -12 | -15 to -12 | -15 to -12 |
| Maximum deceleration - trailing vehicle | ft/s2 | - | -12 to -8 | -12 to -8 | -12 to -8 | -15 to -8 | -12 to -8 |
| Deceleration-reduction distance - own vehicle | ft | - | 100 to 250 | 150 to 250 | 150 to 250 | 100 to 250 m1 | Freeway: >100 Arterial: >502 |
| Deceleration-reduction distance - trailing vehicle | ft | - | 50 to 250 | 150 to 250 | 150 to 250 | 100 to 250 m1 | |
| Accepted deceleration - own vehicle | ft/s2 | - | -2.5 to -4 | -2.5 to -4 | -2.5 to -4 | -12 to -2.5 | -2.5 to -4 |
| Accepted deceleration - trailing vehicle | ft/s2 | - | -1.5 to -2.5 | -1.5 to -2.5 | -1.5 to -2.5 | -12 to -1.5 | -1.5 to -2.5 |
| Waiting time before diffusion | s | - | 99,999 | 60 | 200 | 200 | Keep at least 60; increase only if supported by field observations |
| Minimum headway / clearance (front/rear) | ft | - | 1.5 to 6 | 1.5 to 2 | 1.5 to 2 | 1.5 to 2 | 1.5 to 6 |
| To slower lane if collision time is above | s | - | 0 to 0.5 | 0 to 0.5 | 0 to 0.5 | 0 to 0.5 | Use default |
| Safety distance reduction factor | unitless | - | 0.1 to 1.0 | 0.25 to 1.00 | 0.25 to 1.00 | 0.10 to 1.0 | 0.1 to 0.9 |
| Maximum deceleration for cooperative braking | ft/s2 | - | -32.3 to -3 | -8 to -15 | -8 to -15 | -8 to -20 | -32.2 to -3 |
| Overtake reduced speed areas | - | - | Typically not modified | Unchecked | Unchecked | Unchecked | Field-based |
| Advanced merging | - | - | Field-based | - | - | - | Checked |
| Vehicle routing decisions look ahead | - | - | Typically not modified | - | - | - | - |
| Cooperative lane change | - | - | Field-based | - | - | - | Checked, especially at freeway merge/diverge areas |
| Cooperative lane change - maximum speed difference | mph | - | Typically not modified | - | - | - | 6.71 or field-based |
| Cooperative lane change - maximum collision time | s | - | Typically not modified | - | - | - | 10.0 or field-based |
| Zipper merging3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | Use default |
| Zipper merging - minimum speed | mph | - | - | - | - | - | 12.43 or field-based |
| Zipper merging - overtaking time distribution | s | - | - | - | - | - | 2 to 4 or field-based |
Additional state guidance - Lane change
| Parameter | Unit | Iowa DOT 2017 | Michigan DOT 2020 | MoDOT web guide | KYTC 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum deceleration - own vehicle | ft/s2 | < -12 | -15 to -12 | -15 to -12 | - |
| Maximum deceleration - trailing vehicle | ft/s2 | < -8 | -12 to -8 | -12 to -8 | - |
| Deceleration-reduction distance - own vehicle | ft | Freeway: >100 Urban: >50 | 150 to 250 | 150 to 250 | - |
| Deceleration-reduction distance - trailing vehicle | ft | Freeway: >100 Urban: >50 | 150 to 250 | 150 to 250 | - |
| Accepted deceleration - own vehicle | ft/s2 | < -2.5 | -2.5 to -4 | -2.5 to -4.0 | - |
| Accepted deceleration - trailing vehicle | ft/s2 | < -0.5 | -1.5 to -2.5 | -1.5 to +2.5 (as printed)6 | - |
| Waiting time before diffusion | s | - | 200 (recommended value) | 30 to 60 | - |
| Minimum clearance (front/rear) | ft | 1.5 to 6 | 1.5 to 2 | 1.5 to 2 | 1.64 (use default) |
| To slower lane if collision time is above | s | - | 0.0 to 0.5 | 0 to 0.5 | - |
| Safety distance reduction factor | unitless | 0.1 to 0.9 | 0.25 to 1.00 | 0.25 to 1.00 | - |
| Maximum deceleration for cooperative braking | ft/s2 | -32.2 to -3 | -8 to -15 | -8 to -15 | - |
| Overtake reduced speed areas | - | Field-based | Unchecked | Unchecked | - |
| Advanced merging | - | - | - | Can adjust | - |
| Cooperative lane change | - | Field-based; checked in most freeway merge/diverge/weave areas | - | Can adjust | - |
| Cooperative lane change - maximum speed difference | mph | <20 | - | - | - |
| Cooperative lane change - maximum collision time | s | <15 | - | - | - |
| Rear correction of lateral position | - | - | - | Unchecked | - |
6 MoDOT prints a positive +2.5 ft/s2 endpoint for trailing accepted deceleration. This may be a missing minus sign; verify with MoDOT before using it.
No comparable numeric lane-change behavior range table was located in the reviewed Colorado or Nevada guides. KYTC separately recommends a connector lane-change-distance distribution; that is not deceleration-reduction distance. Iowa's one-sided limits are shown without inventing a second endpoint.
Additional sources: Iowa (October 18, 2017), Table 7-2; Michigan (August 14, 2020), Tables 1, 2, and 4; MoDOT live Engineering Policy Guide, tables 905.3.5.3.2.3.3.1 and 905.3.5.3.2.3.3.3; CDOT (July 2018), Tables 14-15; KYTC (November 2021), Tables 9-14; NDOT (December 2024), Appendix B, Table 9. CDOT's car-following ranges are adapted from Virginia guidance.
1 Deceleration-reduction distance is the distance over which maximum deceleration reduces toward accepted deceleration by 1 ft/s2. Maryland Table 3 explicitly lists 100 to 250 meters for both own and trailing vehicles; those units are preserved here.
2 FDOT Table 8-7 lists this distance by road type (freeway/arterial), without separate own/trailing-vehicle ranges. Its shared guidance is shown across both rows.
3 FDOT notes that zipper merging is available in VISSIM 2024 or later.
Sources: VDOT v2.0 (January 2020), section 5.3.3.2; WisDOT calibration settings (March 30, 2021), pages 2-3; Oregon DOT (June 2011), Table 4-3; WSDOT (September 2014), Table 3; MDOT SHA (August 2017), Table 3; FDOT (June 2026), Table 8-7. VDOT discusses lane-change calibration but does not publish a numeric lane-change range table. Negative ranges retain the order printed in each guide; values and settings require project-specific calibration.