why jams appear for no apparent reason

[Gary Allan]

I've read some people here call it "slinky" traffic or the "accordion effect". I do my best to try to smooth out this effect when I encounter that kind of traffic.

That's what I call it. A slinky. I too attempt to smooth it out by just realizing that I'm going nowhere fast and I hate to use brakes needlessly. I also don't see any reason to being mated to the car in front of me.

And then some dimwit seeing the space you've left dives into it, and slams on the brakes.

Every time.

I would be in our state capital delivering nuke meds in freezing rain. Everyone was bumper to bumper @ 10 mph. I had 5 car lengths. On ramp people could enter and, oddly, I had to even prompt them with a hand gesture ..as though to say "See? You can do it. Yes. This is for you." to coax them into the sensible notion that they can wait for a better opportunity in a few hours if they want to.

It didn't matter, though. Someone who subscribed to the herd mentality would always screw up and slam into someone else and we'd all be at a standstill.

 

[Kestas]

My one and only accident where I was at fault was in slinky traffic on the interstate back in 1974. The traffic would slinky from 0 to 55 back down to 0 over and over. Unfortunately, after an hour of that, I wasn't quick enough on the brakes one of those times when traffic came to a halt.

 

[steve20]

One time I was behind some idiot who accelerated harder to beat the yellow light than he did to merge onto the highway.

So I figure VDOT ought to put a yellow light at the end of the on-ramp. This will get the idiots to think it's going to change to red so they'll actually accelerate onto the highway.


NOMINATING BRIAN FOR BITOG POST OF THE YEAR

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: BarkerMan
There is one driver that does not receive credit for the hard work they do. It's the Regulator. They know what speed the traffic should held to and they do that job.


18 wheeler drivers are actually quite good at this especially in creeping traffic. I sense what they're up to and help them by creeping along parallel to them, at times.... a "rolling roadblock".

In faster traffic those "higher up" (cough... SUVs... cough) should take the roll of "Regulator". If I'm behind them, I can't see around them, and can't smell the green pastures of 100 yards of open lane and am likely to stay put. Alas these bastions of visibility (for themselves) and invisibility (everyone else) demonstrate skills merely average for the group.

 

[rpn453]

Interesting video.

The more frequently someone in front of me is using the brakes, the more following distance I leave. It's not uncommon for me to follow someone and see them use the brakes 50 times for every 1 time that I use mine.

 

[Tosh]

Link to original New Scientist story

Seems the fundamental cause is simply not keeping the proper gap to the car in front.

 

[brianl703]

I've noticed some people simply cannot maintain a consistent gap. The same guy that tailgates you is the one that leaves a huge gap after we've stopped for a light and then eventually creeps up and starts tailgating again.

 

[Tosh]

I assume they're totally oblivious to the purpose for the gap, and we're just lucky they're keeping it between the lines.

 

[andyd]

you are s'posed to keep a car length back for EVERY 10 mph. If this was strictly adhered to, then pigs would fly. In a less than perfect world, I am happy if I can see the tailights on a car 5 cars ahead of the one I'm directly behind. So when the slinky compresses, I have time to hang up the phone and stow my 1/2 decaf mocha latte frappiwhatis some place safe.

 

[Cutehumor]

don't forget the cellphone users sipping on their coffee lattes like andy mentioned.

 

[Anduril]

I hate the idiots who think it's their job to cut you off (and floor it to do so, even when they're 5 car lengths behind you) just because you're trying to merge into their lane. These idiots are the reason I don't use my turn signal half the time, if I let them know I'm going to merge before I do, they'll try to stop me however they can. Usually it's rednecks in pickup trucks whose tires are about as tall as my whole car.

 

[brianl703]

Now I have a question. Lately I've been noticing that when I pass "regulators", they start flashing their high-beams at me.

Is this how they express their displeasure at someone having the audacity to pass them? Or maybe it's their displeasure at how their attempt to keep someone from passing by speeding up failed?

I guess it's maybe just what happens when a control freak loses control.

 

[Matt_S]

Originally Posted By: Tosh
I assume they're totally oblivious to the purpose for the gap, and we're just lucky they're keeping it between the lines.


When I did driver's ed in the late 80's, no one ever taught us that part of the reason for leaving a gap (legally it's supposed to be 2 - 3 seconds or more, depending on conditions) is traffic flow. The only reason they taught was safety. Of course anyone who's ever driven in rush hour knows you don't normally need 2 full seconds for safety unless the person in front really throws the anchor out.

If people understood that a good 2 - 3 second gap could actually keep traffic moving faster, I think most people would do it and traffic would flow better.

So let's get with the PSAs!

 

[Cutehumor]

Everyone thinks they own the road or it's nascar out there on freeways