Comments on: Traffic Jams are Caused by … Too Many Cars on the Road! http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/ The Neat Side of the Web Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:57:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: cooties http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-471294 cooties Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:46:30 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-471294 As someone who commutes 150 kms every day, I believe this research - however obvious it seems - is useful. When were drive on straight areas, it doesn't matter if there is 10 cars or 100 cars: the flow of traffic remains constant. If you throw in a distraction like police lights on the opposite side, or a change in the road like a sudden curve (even a slight one), the affect of a single person braking radically alters the speed of each successive car. The flow moves like boa, stretching until it hits a bend and than contracting until it makes it around the bend. One panicky, brake-happy driver on an unfamiliar road can drop my speed from 100 km to 70 km in seconds - and thus, every car behind and beside me; add to that the lane changers, who double the volume of fast lanes in seconds, and you have massive slow-downs with or without more cars. As someone who commutes 150 kms every day, I believe this research - however obvious it seems - is useful. When were drive on straight areas, it doesn’t matter if there is 10 cars or 100 cars: the flow of traffic remains constant. If you throw in a distraction like police lights on the opposite side, or a change in the road like a sudden curve (even a slight one), the affect of a single person braking radically alters the speed of each successive car. The flow moves like boa, stretching until it hits a bend and than contracting until it makes it around the bend. One panicky, brake-happy driver on an unfamiliar road can drop my speed from 100 km to 70 km in seconds - and thus, every car behind and beside me; add to that the lane changers, who double the volume of fast lanes in seconds, and you have massive slow-downs with or without more cars.

]]> By: ben http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-470444 ben Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:48:25 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-470444 Almost this exact same thing was published something like 20 years ago in Scientific American (couldn't find link to article). Almost this exact same thing was published something like 20 years ago in Scientific American (couldn’t find link to article).

]]> By: lordjim http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-470326 lordjim Thu, 06 Mar 2008 02:29:36 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-470326 ObsidianPunk is right. Give them some credit--99% of what they do and know isn't apparent to you or me. What we do see can seem obvious or simple because someone along the line simplified it for general consumption. And just because it all seems simple doesn't mean it is. This is true in any job that requires any knowledge or skill. Carpenters may hammer a nail and make it look easy. A novice may think it's easy, but will either bend the nail, smash their thumb or put the nail in the wrong place. End of detour. Notice he talks about particle effects. Not being a scientist, I'd guess this means it's not about individual drivers, but a mass of cars behaving in a particular way, regardless of drivers. What can we do with this information? The same thing scientists do with hydrodynamics I suppose. Learn how particles/molecules behave moving through a pipe and you figure out how to make it go smoother. MoonCake, the article wasn't talking about accidents clogging up traffic. It was about jams for no apparent reason. ObsidianPunk is right. Give them some credit–99% of what they do and know isn’t apparent to you or me. What we do see can seem obvious or simple because someone along the line simplified it for general consumption.

And just because it all seems simple doesn’t mean it is. This is true in any job that requires any knowledge or skill. Carpenters may hammer a nail and make it look easy. A novice may think it’s easy, but will either bend the nail, smash their thumb or put the nail in the wrong place. End of detour.

Notice he talks about particle effects. Not being a scientist, I’d guess this means it’s not about individual drivers, but a mass of cars behaving in a particular way, regardless of drivers. What can we do with this information? The same thing scientists do with hydrodynamics I suppose. Learn how particles/molecules behave moving through a pipe and you figure out how to make it go smoother.

MoonCake, the article wasn’t talking about accidents clogging up traffic. It was about jams for no apparent reason.

]]> By: Shannon http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-470160 Shannon Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:22:15 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-470160 They are caused by all those people who go up the onramp at 20 mph and simply refuse to speed up ever. They are caused by all those people who go up the onramp at 20 mph and simply refuse to speed up ever.

]]> By: rdubs http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-470055 rdubs Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:40:10 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-470055 uhhhh..... duurururururur uhhhh….. duurururururur

]]> By: ObsidianPunk http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-470036 ObsidianPunk Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:11:54 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-470036 And thus we've just witnessed the "after thought" or "common sense" effect with responses to this post. The goal of science is to make the subjective objective so that people can say for sure "traffic jams result first and foremost from too much cars" over the highly opinionated common sense " traffic is caused by too many cars because I observed it over the years in my day to day experience, duh." While person B says "well in my experience it's braking and stupid driving." Had the results said braking and stupid driving, people would be like "I knew that! What a waste of money. Anyone could have come to that conclusion." Chah right ... This type of research is not a waste nor is it just reinforcing the obvious. Now that we know for sure that it is too much cars, we can look for better solutions to alleviate traffic. And thus we’ve just witnessed the “after thought” or “common sense” effect with responses to this post. The goal of science is to make the subjective objective so that people can say for sure “traffic jams result first and foremost from too much cars” over the highly opinionated common sense ” traffic is caused by too many cars because I observed it over the years in my day to day experience, duh.” While person B says “well in my experience it’s braking and stupid driving.” Had the results said braking and stupid driving, people would be like “I knew that! What a waste of money. Anyone could have come to that conclusion.” Chah right … This type of research is not a waste nor is it just reinforcing the obvious. Now that we know for sure that it is too much cars, we can look for better solutions to alleviate traffic.

]]> By: automotive news http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469914 automotive news Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:00:55 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469914 geneva show is great this year looking forward to next geneva show is great this year looking forward to next

]]> By: Sid Morrison http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469753 Sid Morrison Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:37:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469753 @Moon- How does one slam on their "breaks" ? If the car has "breaks", maybe it needs "fixes" instead? @Moon-
How does one slam on their “breaks” ? If the car has “breaks”, maybe it needs “fixes” instead?

]]> By: Peaches http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469696 Peaches Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:51:51 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469696 I find it so funny when there are all these people at shopping centers who can't find a parking space ANYWHERE, while the very top floor is completely deserted. And I had no IDEA that too many cars caused traffic jams. I find it so funny when there are all these people at shopping centers who can’t find a parking space ANYWHERE, while the very top floor is completely deserted.
And I had no IDEA that too many cars caused traffic jams.

]]> By: Nastia http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469551 Nastia Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:52:01 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469551 I think this becomes extremely obvious when a parking space becomes impossible to find at the shopping centers. I think this becomes extremely obvious when a parking space becomes impossible to find at the shopping centers.

]]> By: Josh http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469484 Josh Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:28:43 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469484 I am still believe it is caused by stupid drivers and poor traffic light synchronization. Here you get the idiots who wait until the very last second to get over on a lane closure then you have the idiots who go though a green or yellow and stop in the middle of the intersection and then the light turns red continually stopping the cross traffic causing even more of a backup. I know many lights which are completely out of sync which causes many of the problems. I am still believe it is caused by stupid drivers and poor traffic light synchronization. Here you get the idiots who wait until the very last second to get over on a lane closure then you have the idiots who go though a green or yellow and stop in the middle of the intersection and then the light turns red continually stopping the cross traffic causing even more of a backup. I know many lights which are completely out of sync which causes many of the problems.

]]> By: MoonCake http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469140 MoonCake Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:16:39 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469140 yet another waste of time, money, and resources. i work in the traffic center for AM commute at WHIO and i could tell you that accidents and backups are caused by people not driving the speed limit, and not taking into consideration the current weather conditions. then, because people don't obey the law, they end up behind someone who IS going the speed limit and slam on their breaks. the person behind them then slams on their breaks, and so on. moral of the story: drive the speed limit and allow one car length per 10mph between you and the person in front of you, ESPECIALLY on the highway. i know it's hard to allow so much space, but it will only benefit you. it allows you to slam on your breaks if the situation presents itself, it allows other vehicles to maneuver around you and others, and it's just more safe. PLEASE! we hate reporting fatalities... we just had one this morning, and it's very unpleasant. wear your seatbelt and drive safe, everyone! yet another waste of time, money, and resources. i work in the traffic center for AM commute at WHIO and i could tell you that accidents and backups are caused by people not driving the speed limit, and not taking into consideration the current weather conditions. then, because people don’t obey the law, they end up behind someone who IS going the speed limit and slam on their breaks. the person behind them then slams on their breaks, and so on. moral of the story: drive the speed limit and allow one car length per 10mph between you and the person in front of you, ESPECIALLY on the highway. i know it’s hard to allow so much space, but it will only benefit you. it allows you to slam on your breaks if the situation presents itself, it allows other vehicles to maneuver around you and others, and it’s just more safe. PLEASE! we hate reporting fatalities… we just had one this morning, and it’s very unpleasant. wear your seatbelt and drive safe, everyone!

]]> By: S-r-ex http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469015 S-r-ex Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:12:48 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-469015 suuuuuurPRIIIIIIIIIISE!!! And it took scientists this long to figure out the daily morning rush... suuuuuurPRIIIIIIIIIISE!!! And it took scientists this long to figure out the daily morning rush…

]]> By: Thespian24601 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-468996 Thespian24601 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:45:03 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-468996 Eh, I figured, but never really wanted to say. I was afraid of sounding stupid. Glad scientists took that pleasure away from me. Eh, I figured, but never really wanted to say. I was afraid of sounding stupid. Glad scientists took that pleasure away from me.

]]> By: Josh http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-468971 Josh Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:25:02 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/05/traffic-jams-are-caused-by-too-many-cars-on-the-road/#comment-468971 Umm was this obvious to anyone else? Umm was this obvious to anyone else?

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