Traffic rule breakers - good for traffic! (brakes, fast lane, best)
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To sum it up, it found that when the mix of "good" and "bad" drivers is 60/40, traffic flows best. Too many "good" drivers and things bog down, but enough "bad" drivers work to unclog the good drivers and keep things moving smoothly on the roads.
"Bad" behavior that is considered beneficial includes speeding, passing, and frequent lane changes as well as merging later so as not to become stuck behind "good" drivers. The only "bad" behavior that was truly detrimental was tailgating, so don't tailgate, pass that slow "good" driver!
One thing I noticed from the write up is the conditions of the test, with the "good" subjects spread across the whole test area, its just like "good" slow drivers being in the fast and passing lanes, forcing "bad" drivers to go around by passing on the right, speeding up to pass, etc. I wonder what a study would have shown if there were clear lanes for "bad" fast drivers to use that weren't clogged up by "good" slow drivers? Since the model had "bad" drivers choosing the past of least resistance, I'd imagine they'd all default to the open fast lanes and violate less laws.
The study looks at what's best for moving traffic along, but doesn't study speed's effect on this mix, or severity of crashes if they occur by mix or speed - definitely something that should be studied in the future.
To sum it up, it found that when the mix of "good" and "bad" drivers is 60/40, traffic flows best. Too many "good" drivers and things bog down, but enough "bad" drivers work to unclog the good drivers and keep things moving smoothly on the roads.
"Bad" behavior that is considered beneficial includes speeding, passing, and frequent lane changes as well as merging later so as not to become stuck behind "good" drivers. The only "bad" behavior that was truly detrimental was tailgating, so don't tailgate, pass that slow "good" driver!
One thing I noticed from the write up is the conditions of the test, with the "good" subjects spread across the whole test area, its just like "good" slow drivers being in the fast and passing lanes, forcing "bad" drivers to go around by passing on the right, speeding up to pass, etc. I wonder what a study would have shown if there were clear lanes for "bad" fast drivers to use that weren't clogged up by "good" slow drivers? Since the model had "bad" drivers choosing the past of least resistance, I'd imagine they'd all default to the open fast lanes and violate less laws.
The study looks at what's best for moving traffic along, but doesn't study speed's effect on this mix, or severity of crashes if they occur by mix or speed - definitely something that should be studied in the future.
MAN!!!! If we could just get the Illinois State Troopers to understand that now
I don't buy it. No matter what you do (obey or break the laws and "rules" of driving) it only takes ONE driver who follows too close or cuts someone off to send a chain reaction backwards that screws up the flow.
There's plenty of research and studies out there to read, and all of them point to systemic problems with volume, proper intervals and braking rather than anticipating and slowing.
I was afforded the opportunity to visit the traffic control center in DC a few times, and it was amazing.
Thanks for the link though. I'll read the whole thing later. I'm no expert, but this field of study is interesting. I'll see if I can find a link to the study in Japan about how people don't know how to slow down rather than apply brakes. It's a good read (and there are similar ones from Europe and the US out there.)
I think use cell phones and other mobile communication devices are the biggest problem we could solve easily. But big brother waited too late to address the problem. Now whatever happens is going to be heavy handed.
I work with CHP officers quite often, and they tend to agree, they want traffic to flow. They also agree that tailgating is bad. When American (an other) drivers do not know the meaning of, or heed, a headlight flash and do not yield, it promotes tailgating.
A guy I know used to claim that hypothesis and that he actually helped traffic by tailgaiting and zipping in and out with multiple lane changes per mile, since he felt that he was maximizing the surface area of the freeway. Well, all was fine until he smashed into someone who had to stop suddenly because of another traffic helper who had cut them off. It's an interesting hypothesis, but one cannot objectively determine when the tipping point has been reached between good and bad drivers.
I work with CHP officers quite often, and they tend to agree, they want traffic to flow. They also agree that tailgating is bad. When American (an other) drivers do not know the meaning of, or heed, a headlight flash and do not yield, it promotes tailgating.
It can get you a ticket here,but I haven't heard of any being issued.
It can be true when a freeway narrows one lane (say 3 lanes to 2). The "good" drivers get over early, while the "bad" drivers use the entire 3rd lane and merge at the end of it. That maximizes use of the roadway.
I don't buy it. No matter what you do (obey or break the laws and "rules" of driving) it only takes ONE driver who follows too close or cuts someone off to send a chain reaction backwards that screws up the flow.
It also only takes one idiot going too slow in the passing/left lane to create miles of backed up traffic behind him. I have a 50 mile round trip commute, and I see this causing traffic problems WAY more often than accidents.
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