The theory about traffic jams explained...

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

Hey look theres a challenger!.... lol

[JEFFTATE]

Ain't this the truth !

They ought to post this in the DMV and the schools !

[singer69]

The driver of car A should loose license untill they can prove they are no longer an idiot. They should also be tarred and feathered in a public viewing. Second offense maybe mild torture. Just my opinion. This also why brakes are over rated!!
And yes I do write tickets for going too slow on a highway NJ title 39:4-97.1 Slow speed so as to impede or block traffic.

[WS6]

This is why I do not go for the brake for every little thing. Granted I am a manual transmission so I can downshift. Even in an automatic I try coasting first. People don't think about what their brake lights mean to the person behind them traveling at 80mph.

[Takid455]

The driver of car A should loose license untill they can prove they are no longer an idiot. They should also be tarred and feathered in a public viewing. Second offense maybe mild torture. Just my opinion. This also why brakes are over rated!!
And yes I do write tickets for going too slow on a highway NJ title 39:4-97.1 Slow speed so as to impede or block traffic.

I'm glad I'm not the only Jersian who thinks like this. I would add that driver A should be beaten by all motorist that were forced to into the jam due to driver A's stupidity.

I read a study performed in England that a single brake light has a ripple effect for 5 miles. I also refrain from braking until absolutely necessary. I can't stand rubber band traffic.

[FirstGenZq8]

i always wonder why a tahoe or similar SUV slams on their brakes when they have superior ride height. IMO w/ great ride height comes great responsibility. i.e. if you drive something that has a decently high ride height LOOK AHEAD.

[TonyL]

[TonyL]

you should read this page, especially his experiments page. I've done them and single handedly stopped traffic jams myself employing his techniques.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

damn tony.. ripple effect!

lets all do the WAVE!

[Jim Nilsen]

The wave moves like the belly of a snake,one part always having to get pushed ahead of the other to have room to push more ahead.

The circle of cars is great, it's the complete stop that does the damage to get it started.

DON"T STOP

[amx2334]

The driver of car A should loose license untill they can prove they are no longer an idiot.

And let it be said "Those without error shall cast the first stone inside this glass house where we reside."
Sorry but I couldn't resist.We all make mistakes from time to time.

And yes I do write tickets for going too slow on a highway NJ title 39:4-97.1 Slow speed so as to impede or block traffic.

I have seen cops do this also. Everyone's afraid to pass them and it gets rather scary behind them.
I try not to needlessly use the brakes on the highway. I also get about 75-100k on a set of pads.

[parsonsj]

Cops don't write enough tickets for the slow left lane drivers. Many people think if they are going the speed limit or slightly above it, then they are entitled to stay in the left lane, no matter who's behind them.

It makes me crazy, and I think it is a big contributor to aggressive driving. Yet all the ad campaigns talk about speed as if that was the main instigator, not the passive-aggressive slow left laners.

My favorite was a letter to editor in the Washington (DC) Post: a woman wrote in extolling the "quaint" Texas behavior of moving right and allowing faster cars by. LOL.

jp

[monza]

I think it'll be more fun to cause some jams.... just a little stop, then go.
Explain to your passenger, check it out, this is how you cause a traffic jam, circle back check out your handy work...

[ITLBTU]

Cops don't write enough tickets for the slow left lane drivers. Many people think if they are going the speed limit or slightly above it, then they are entitled to stay in the left lane, no matter who's behind them.

It makes me crazy, and I think it is a big contributor to aggressive driving. Yet all the ad campaigns talk about speed as if that was the main instigator, not the passive-aggressive slow left laners.


jp

This is a huge factor to poor traffic. I think Ca. drivers are the worst when it comes to this. You can be driving down the freeway and the right lane has 5% of the cars in the left lane. If people would pass the slow cars then go back to the right lane traffic would move much better, not to mention, the jerks who don't want people to pass them on the right so they speed up to keep those who are passing on the right, in the right lane so they can't pass them. I love driving in other state because the drivers are usually far more polite and less selfish than they are here in Ca.



Tony, I love that video. It reminds me of when I used to race stock cars on a 1/4 mi track. We would get a 5 lap warm up session before the main event to warm up the tires. If someone got a little sideways and the guy behind hit the brake it would be like an acordian(sp) and it looked just like the video.

[shortrack]

you should read this page, especially his experiments page. I've done them and single handedly stopped traffic jams myself employing his techniques.

that should be in the drivers handbooks and be taught in drivers ed.
if everyone was aware of this phenomenon it would go a long way.....