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Traffic Hacks: How One Driver Can Vastly Improve Traffic

trafficwaves.org

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Re: Traffic Hacks: How One Driver Can Vastly Improve Traffic

#111

Post by netsp »

pyre wrote: post #106
itistoday wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm constantly surprised by how few people have heard of the "3 second rule". The rule is simple and works for any traveling speed: pick any arbitrary mark on the road, watch as the car in front of you passes it, and count 3 seconds. You want at the very minimum, 3 seconds to pass before you pass that same mark. This not only has the advantages described by the OP (he's definitely following it, if not calling it by n…

I remember being taught more like 7 seconds, but that might have been for freeway driving.

The point of counting seconds instead of distance is that it works at any speed. People tend to keep the longest (time) distance at suburban speeds.

7 seconds at highway speeds can be over 200 meters.

I'm all for safety, but that is excessive.

Re: Traffic Hacks: How One Driver Can Vastly Improve Traffic

#112

Post by Eliezer »

itistoday wrote: post #73
bouncingsoul wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did exactly what you described on a recent 12 hour car trip. I'm never tailgating again. The main benefit for me, and one you don't mention, is safety. Knowing I have actual time to react in an emergency instead of being stuck with brake hard and pray I think really calms my subconscious.

I'm constantly surprised by how few people have heard of the "3 second rule". The rule is simple and works for any traveling speed: pick any arbitrary mark on the road, watch as the car in front of you passes it, and count 3 seconds. You want at the very minimum, 3 seconds to pass before you pass that same mark. This not only has the advantages described by the OP (he's definitely following it, if not calling it by n…

Except that this only gives you a linear amount of space with respect to your speed. You need space that goes as the square of the speed.

Re: Traffic Hacks: How One Driver Can Vastly Improve Traffic

#113

Post by Eliezer »

mrshoe wrote: post #8

This man is a saint. For years I've wished more people understood these principles. Instead, I get drivers who are angry at me for leaving a big space in front of my car. If only I pulled up right behind the car in front of me, they'd be 60 feet closer to their destination!! I wish more people would check this site out. Traffic is a real problem that wastes billions of taxpayer dollars and hours on the road every yea…

I suspect that (some) drivers instinctively measure their speed relative to other cars rather than the background. If they're not overtaking other cars, they feel like they're not moving.

Re: Traffic Hacks: How One Driver Can Vastly Improve Traffic

#114

Post by c0nsilience »

I've been doing this type of driving for years in L.A. I noticed when I was a teenager that, no matter what the cause for stoppage, people always hit the brakes when they see brake lights ahead of them. So whenever drivers ahead of me hit the brakes, I decide instantly whether I also need to brake or whether I can just let off the gas. This way I don't cause drivers behind me to brake and cause that long ripple effect.

Re: Traffic Hacks: How One Driver Can Vastly Improve Traffic

#115

Post by devin »

I've been driving like this ever since I heard a show on Wisconsin Public Radio where they interviewed a traffic researcher. One thing that is not true, however, is that "cheaters" are always wrong.

For instance, there is significant research that suggests in a 2 lane situation where both lanes must merge into one single lane (road work ahead, for example), it makes more sense for both lanes to proceed uniformly toward the point where they must merge. Most people would assume this would cause a deadlock at the point where the merge occurs, but it doesn't. When both lanes are allowed to proceed without switching lanes towards the point where they both must merge, they will achieve far better results than if they were to organize into a single lane prior to that point.

This makes people /really/ angry. Once, when there was approximately 2 miles notice for road work, I stuck with the right lane and did not merge into the left lane like everyone else. I actually had a large pickup truck attempt to cut me off from proceeding in an EMPTY lane.

Of course, this only holds when there is an inevitable traffic jam. When it comes to /avoiding/ traffic jams, you are better off maintaining distance to allow other drivers to merge.

Re: Traffic Hacks: How One Driver Can Vastly Improve Traffic

#116

Post by devin »

steamer25 wrote: post #81

Nice, patient guy but there's a better way yet if you can afford to gamble with your time a bit (don't try this if you can't afford to lose a little time). When confronted with a single backed up lane, use the uncontended lanes to zip to the front of the wave and merge in _at speed_. Maintaining speed is important. If you don't find an opening, you'll have to abort and find another route to your destination. The up-s…

I take issue with your theories. The "payoffs" you allude to do not exist. Your "zipper-merge" costs you gas money, and if you took the time to watch the video, you'd realize that you are considered a "cheater". Cheaters feel better about having gotten in front, but what they don't realize is that the "sleeper" is providing a way for cars to merge, thus alleviating the jam in the first place. All you're doing is typical busy-body traffic maneuvers that soothe your rattled frame, but do nothing to actually get you to your final destination any faster. The difference between maintaining adequate distance and doing your patented "zipper-merge" have been proven to shave at the most, a minute and a half off of your commute. Even if you do this five days a week, you're saving roughly 8 minutes. If you think that's worth it, then you should also be aware that the vast majority of accidents occur while changing lanes.

Re: Traffic Hacks: How One Driver Can Vastly Improve Traffic

#117

Post by devin »

TravisLS wrote: post #46

This is a representation of classic game theory. If all participants cooperate to drive as described, the traffic clears. If nobody else helps to open up space, however, you will personally arrive at your destination slower by driving passively, even though many others behind you will benefit. And since this type of driving requires some degree of altruism, you can pretty much rule it out as a realistic outcome witho…

Travis, the research out there on traffic jams suggests that even by driving completely altruistically, you add mere minutes to your commute. You also avoid changing lanes and driving at faster speeds, both of which are linked with an increase in accidents.

Re: Traffic Hacks: How One Driver Can Vastly Improve Traffic

#118

Post by devin »

RyanMcGreal wrote: post #29

I changed my driving patterns after first reading this remarkable essay some years ago. Now I follow what I affectionately call the "zen of driving", to wit: leave a huge gap in front of me, drive at a constant speed where possible [1], avoid using the brakes except in case of emergency, and so on. On long driving trips through mixed traffic, I have made several observations, some obvious and some surprising: * Drivi…

All good points, but one that is even more important while careening down a concrete road at 60mph: safety. By traveling at a slower speed and not changing lanes you are drastically reducing the odds of getting into an accident.

Re: Traffic Hacks: How One Driver Can Vastly Improve Traffic

#119

Post by devin »

Eliezer wrote: post #113
mrshoe wrote: post #8

This man is a saint. For years I've wished more people understood these principles. Instead, I get drivers who are angry at me for leaving a big space in front of my car. If only I pulled up right behind the car in front of me, they'd be 60 feet closer to their destination!! I wish more people would check this site out. Traffic is a real problem that wastes billions of taxpayer dollars and hours on the road every yea…

I suspect that (some) drivers instinctively measure their speed relative to other cars rather than the background. If they're not overtaking other cars, they feel like they're not moving.

Yes, this is exactly right and is confirmed by nearly all of the research going on with regard to traffic and driving.

Re: Traffic Hacks: How One Driver Can Vastly Improve Traffic

#120

Post by aw3c2 »

axod wrote: post #14
antdaddy wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another problem is drivers who insist on driving in the left lane at all times and refuse to move over. IIRC, the left lane used to be referred to as the 'passing' lane...

In the UK it still is, and passing on the left is illegal. I like that system more that all lanes equal.

Took me a moment to understand because I forgot that in the UK the sides are exchanged. Left = Right and Right = Left in traffic. :-)

It is the same in Germany. I always assumed it was that way everywhere.

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