More realistic traffic (un.nahbar) for American Truck Simulator
More natural AI traffic in ATS: rush hours, quiet rural nights, car colors based on the US market and longer trains. Version 8.1 for 1.61, on Steam Workshop.
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What this mod does
More realistic traffic is un.nahbar‘s traffic mod for American Truck Simulator. It aims to make AI traffic feel more natural without forcing the game’s drivers to behave unnaturally.
What changes
- Different hourly density in rural areas, towns and big cities: heavy traffic during the morning and evening rush hours, and very little at night in the countryside.
- Garbage trucks mostly in the morning and street sweepers outside rush hour.
- Vehicle colors based on 2023 US market shares, with more than 4,900 colors.
- More frequent trams and subways at rush hour, passenger trains during the day and freight trains at night, with more realistic lengths.
- Slightly lower speeds at gas stations, rest areas and for vehicles towing trailers.
Compatibility
The author lists it for ATS 1.53 to 1.61 with all map DLCs, but only maintains the current version. Version 8.1 (October 16, 2026) is adapted to 1.61.3.18. Leave g_traffic at 1.0 in config.cfg.
Known issues
It changes traffic_data.sii, the AI .sui files and the traffic rules, so it conflicts with other traffic mods and probably with police mods. On long straights there’s little oncoming traffic, and since the game uses a single time zone, rush hour arrives earlier in the east.
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It's in Documents › American Truck Simulator › game.log.txt. It's read in your browser: the file is never uploaded.
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User rating
Our rating
0.0 / 5- Traffic that changes with the time of day and the type of area
- Car colors based on real US market data
- Trains with more believable lengths and schedules
- Updated with every game version
- Fully or partly incompatible with other traffic mods that change the same files
- Likely conflict with police mods, according to the author
- Oncoming traffic is still sparse on long straights
- The author only maintains the current game version
Requirements
- American Truck Simulator 1.61 (the author lists 1.53 to 1.61 but only maintains the current version)
- Steam account
- No DLC required; according to the author it works with all map DLCs
- g_traffic variable at 1.0 (the default value) in config.cfg
How to install it
- Open the "More realistic traffic" page on Steam Workshop and click "Subscribe".
- Launch American Truck Simulator and wait for Steam to download the mod.
- Open your profile's Mod Manager and enable "More realistic traffic".
- Disable any other traffic mods that change the same files.
- Check that g_traffic is set to 1.0 in config.cfg (Documents/American Truck Simulator).
- Confirm the changes and load your profile.
Version history
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8.116 Oct 2026Current
Adapted to ATS 1.61.3.18; seasonal RV and farm vehicle series updated
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8.010 Sep 2026
Adapted to ATS 1.61.0.239
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7.12 Aug 2026
Freight car chains changed (no empty cars at the front), for 1.60
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7.011 Jun 2026
Adapted to ATS 1.60.0.83
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8 Feb 2025
Released on Steam Workshop
Common problems
Does it work with other traffic mods?
Only partly, or not at all, if they change the same files (traffic_data.sii, AI .sui files, traffic rules).
What about police mods?
The author thinks they probably conflict, because they touch the same files.
Why doesn't rush hour line up in every state?
The game uses a single time for the whole map; the author says there's no fix yet.
Do I need to change g_traffic?
No: leave it at 1.0, the default value.
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