A method has steps for dividing a controlled roadway into virtual moving packets with characteristics of being spaced apart by a specific distance and moving at a controlled speed on the roadway, by a master computer coupled to sensors and actuators of the controlled roadway, managing vehicles traveling on the controlled roadway to enter, leave and occupy individual ones of the virtual packets, through communication by the master computer with on-board computers in individual ones of the vehicles, and adjusting virtual packet size and spacing during operation, causing vehicles occupying the spaces of the virtual packets to readjust position relative to one another according to the size and spacing adjustment of the packets by the master computer.