Traffic jams

[AutobahnSHO]

Interesting article about some causes, solutions

http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20160428-how-ai-will-solve-traffic-part-one

[93JC]

Experiment demonstrating how one nervous twat who slows down for no good reason will have long-reaching repercussions on the rest of traffic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wm-pZp_mi0

[AutobahnSHO]

yup.

[Morris Minor]

I'm convinced you could prevent a lot of jams in Atlanta through the hard enforcement of 45mph pacing on its freeways.


Also getting people to move off uniformly at green lights on surface streets... but that requires automation.

[AutobahnSHO]

I'm convinced you could prevent a lot of jams in Atlanta through the hard enforcement of 45mph pacing on its freeways.

Maybe during rush hour(s). Wyoming has 'dynamic' speed limits- changing based on weather. Cities should have limits based on traffic/ accidents...

Also getting people to move off uniformly at green lights on surface streets... but that requires automation.

I'm reluctant to use the horn but beeped at someone sitting a full 4-5sec at a greenlight today.   People can't live without their phone for 30sec.

[giant_mtb]

One trick I like to use in traffic is to find the overall speed of the crowd, get some distance between you and those in front of me (5-10 cars' worth depending on the speed) and stay there or even just slightly below. If you leave enough room in front of you, idiots can just move in and out in front of you while you cruise along touching nothing but the steering wheel, occasionally tap the brakes to reset yourself.  I've noticed this is what a lot of truckers do as well.  Makes traffic much more relaxing. People think youre weird for not riding everyone's ass, but whatever.

This was an especially nice technique when I had a manual.

[Byteme]

Experiment demonstrating how one nervous twat who slows down for no good reason will have long-reaching repercussions on the rest of traffic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wm-pZp_mi0

I've read that often times on a crowded freeway a single brake light without reducing speed is enough to mess things up.  It causes those behind to slow down in anticipation.

As stupid and careless as many drivers are I'm surprised there isn't more carnage than there is on the roads.

[CaminoRacer]

One trick I like to use in traffic is to find the overall speed of the crowd, get some distance between you and those in front of me (5-10 cars' worth depending on the speed) and stay there or even just slightly below. If you leave enough room in front of you, idiots can just move in and out in front of you while you cruise along touching nothing but the steering wheel, occasionally tap the brakes to reset yourself.  I've noticed this is what a lot of truckers do as well.  Makes traffic much more relaxing. People think youre weird for not riding everyone's ass, but whatever.

This was an especially nice technique when I had a manual.

+1

[68_427]

In stop and go traffic I never creep.  I only move my car when there's at least a full car length of space infront of me and I get honked at like crazy but fuck y'all.  I also set my idle speed a couple hundred RPM high so my car will idle along in gear 

[Morris Minor]

I've read that often times on a crowded freeway a single brake light without reducing speed is enough to mess things up.  It causes those behind to slow down in anticipation.

As stupid and careless as many drivers are I'm surprised there isn't more carnage than there is on the roads.

Maybe we should reduce the sensitivity of brake light switches, i.e. the would not come on at the slightest touch of the pedal.

[AutobahnSHO]

One trick I like to use in traffic is to find the overall speed of the crowd, get some distance between you and those in front of me (5-10 cars' worth depending on the speed) and stay there or even just slightly below. If you leave enough room in front of you, idiots can just move in and out in front of you while you cruise along touching nothing but the steering wheel, occasionally tap the brakes to reset yourself.  I've noticed this is what a lot of truckers do as well.  Makes traffic much more relaxing. People think youre weird for not riding everyone's ass, but whatever.

This was an especially nice technique when I had a manual.

Nah, I like to cut through the slow-moving crowds. I generally do 10mph over on long interstate drives.

[Xer0]

I've read that often times on a crowded freeway a single brake light without reducing speed is enough to mess things up.  It causes those behind to slow down in anticipation.

As stupid and careless as many drivers are I'm surprised there isn't more carnage than there is on the roads.

I hate that.  I've learned that often times engine braking is more than enough to slow you down while you're in the flow of traffic because most braking is done by the idiots that speed up to get on someone's ass then brake to not hit them then repeat the process over and over again.  I just leave a couple car lengths in front and I'm good.