Abstract
This study assesses the efficacy of three routing protocols, namely Ad-hoc on-Demand Distance Vector (AODV), Dynamic Source Routing (DSR), and Direct Sequence Distance Vector (DSDV), in Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs) utilizing the Network Simulator-2 (NS-2). The research evaluates the impact of different speeds and node densities on network efficiency in highway settings that simulate real-world scenarios. This assessment focuses on throughput, packet delivery ratio (PDR), end-to-end delay, and normalized routing overhead. The simulation findings demonstrate that DSR outperforms in terms of PDR, throughput, and routing overhead as the node density increases. On the other hand, DSDV performs exceptionally well in offering greater packet delivery ratios and throughput, with reduced delays, as mobility increases. These findings emphasize the need to select the appropriate routing protocol for VANETs, considering specific deployment factors such as node density and mobility. The study not only enhances comprehension of the strengths and weaknesses of AODV, DSR, and DSDV in VANETs but also guides network designers and researchers to optimize protocol performance for enhanced network stability and efficiency. Potential areas for future research include investigating the implementation of hybrid protocols to optimize the performance of VANETs.