Ten counter-intuitive traffic facts

[redpoint5]

The reason why it doesn't matter how many lanes are added is because inconsiderate people stay in the "fast lane" until the last moment before their exit, slam on the brakes, cut across all lanes of traffic causing all other lanes to hit their brakes, and then they finally exit the freeway.

By causing traffic to slow down or stop just for a single instance, that traffic pulse will exist for minutes to hours later.

If people would choose the lane they need and stick to it, making minimal lane changes, traffic would flow much smoother. People don't care that their aggressive driving, while saving them 2 seconds, will cost thousands of people extra seconds on their commute.

[gone-ot]

The German Autobahn Rule: "...the LEFT, high-speed lane is for PASSING, NOT for CRUISING in."

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

The German Autobahn Rule: "...the LEFT, high-speed lane is for PASSING, NOT for CRUISING in."

They also know how to merge!

I am surprised at how many people drive in the slow lane around here. I change lanes as they come up behind me and sometimes I end up in the fast lane!

[BlueFoot]

This site has a terrific analysis of many traffic problems and how even one driver doing it right can make a difference, however slight.
SCIENCE HOBBYIST: Traffic Waves, physics for bored commuters

[Chrysler kid]

Originally Posted by BlueFoot

This site has a terrific analysis of many traffic problems and how even one driver doing it right can make a difference, however slight.
SCIENCE HOBBYIST: Traffic Waves, physics for bored commuters

I want to say I was in Houston and they have traffic lights to merge on ramps onto the highway that are triggered by congestion. It didn't seem to work that day but interesting none the less.

Usually I can pick out other manual transmission cars in traffic and we make a convoy trying to reduce the amount of times we have to depress the clutch, I'd rather cruise at 20mph than constant stop and go

[BlueFoot]

Originally Posted by Chrysler kid

I want to say I was in Houston and they have traffic lights to merge on ramps onto the highway that are triggered by congestion. It didn't seem to work that day but interesting none the less.

Usually I can pick out other manual transmission cars in traffic and we make a convoy trying to reduce the amount of times we have to depress the clutch, I'd rather cruise at 20mph than constant stop and go

We have those lights here too. They kind of work by spacing out the on ramp traffic so people merge in better. It wouldn't be necessary if people just let people in.

By cruising at a constant 20mph with a large buffer space in front of you, you can smooth out traffic flow for everyone behind you. If everyone did the same we wouldn't have the stop and go traffic.

[Chrysler kid]

Originally Posted by BlueFoot

We have those lights here too. They kind of work by spacing out the on ramp traffic so people merge in better. It wouldn't be necessary if people just let people in.

By cruising at a constant 20mph with a large buffer space in front of you, you can smooth out traffic flow for everyone behind you. If everyone did the same we wouldn't have the stop and go traffic.

Dallas has gotten better with that, or at least I can get other traffic to start doing it with me and eventually get traffic back into a better pace

That being said traffic is absolutely impossible on major highways after 6:30 am. I don't know why they even bother doing traffic updates on the news. Everybody knows your gonna get backed up on every highway

I would like to start a petition though about getting fuel effecient cars and not just hybrids in the hov lane. Cars with an EPA rating over 35mpg mixed driving or sub compact should be considered hybrids.

Unfortunately that would rule out a few hyper milers but the civic hx and vx and hatchbacks should be moved in as well as the metro and diesel cars.

Or just have the obd1 inspection machines rate fuel effeciency in all cars yearly to give out EV effecient vehicle ratings

[Frank Lee]

Everybody knows your gonna get backed up on every highway

All's y'alls like it that way. Or else you wouldn't be there, or else maybe some would make the population/congestion connection.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

All's y'alls like it that way. Or else you wouldn't be there, or else maybe some would make the population/congestion connection.

Yep, or you'd be telecommuting. Closest I get to traffic congestion these days is the last 3-4 miles to my friends' place, which is in a game refuge so the deer hang out beside the road, and sometimes in it.

[litesong]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

......which is in a game refuge so the deer hang out beside the road.....

Sorry fer resurrectin' this ol' thread, but ah jes' gots ta tell a story. Sometimes animals jes' kan't read da signs correctly(kinda like pee-ple). I was on a road leadin' to a huntin' area during huntin' season. Shore 'nuff, a sign read, "Public Hunting"(don't know why they misspelled the word, huntin'). Provin' the sign told the truth, were 3 pheasants eatin' grasses sproutin' around the sign posts.