Over the past year or so I've noticed a trend toward a higher percentage of the drivers behind me noticing what I'm up to and staying patiently behind me rolling up to the stop light. And a curious skeptic will then notice with how much remaining momentum we can cruise across the intersection when light turns green. So there's hope for mankind yet.
BTW here's a pretty cool JavaScript microsimulation of road traffic:
Welcome to the Physics and Traffic Homepage of Martin Treiber
You can adjust the various traffic volumes and observe the effects.