This letter reports traffic flow sensitivity to visco-elasticity, with the traffic flow modeling briefly described at first and then used to do traffic flow simulations whose results can reflect the properties of spatial–temporal evolution of ring traffic flow. It reveals that visco-elasticity plays crucial role in formation of traffic flow patterns, implying that self-organization of traffic flow is crucial in determining traffic flow status. This signaling reports traffic flow sensitivity to visco-elasticity, with the traffic flow modeling briefly described at first and then used to do traffic flow simulations whose results can reflect the properties of spatial-temporal evolution of ring traffic flow. It reveals that visco-elasticity plays crucial role in formation of traffic flow patterns, implying that self-organization of traffic flow is crucial in determining traffic flow status.