There are lots of dry as dust papers out there about traffic flow and management, a subject dear to all our hearts.
By way of a change, here is a link to the site of a driver who has performed "experiments" in driving techniques to alleviate traffic jams all by himself.
There's quite lot to read, but I found it very interesting. You may too.
I appreciate he's American, I appreciate that it's a dead simple idea, (excellent), and I appreciate that on at least some motorways we are doing this over here already with variable speed limits.
It's still interesting. I might even be tempted to have a go. Anyone else?
tinyurl.com/dxje3
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Whenever I'm in a traffic jam I usually place the car in 1st and let it drive it self. I don't apply any acceleration, and the car moves at a steady speed. Of course, I'm ready with the brake if I need to, but more often than not, I never catch up with the car infront. I have often wondered whether it has helped the traffic behind, and this would seem to support the idea it has :-)
I don't mind having a huge gap infront of me, and I don't mind if someone wants to take that gap, as long as I don't have to brake!
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I also do this.
No-one has ever tooted/cut in, maybe because they appreciate that it allows the traffic to move at a constant rate, not the stop start malarkey you usually get.
Plus, its saves your clutch too!
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Why do I think that if you tried that here, half the drivers behind you would hoot and the other half try to overtake?
I have occasionally tried to anticipate the average speed of a motorway queue, but if you let the gap get too large* it usually gets filled up.
*i.e. more than about two car lengths...
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*i.e. more than about two car lengths...
I wish. 3/4 of a car length is usually enough... :-(
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He talks of this people pushing in point (buried in the faqs.)
He says that in light traffic his technique will fail, but in heavy traffic a few people behind will overtake, nip in front and then zoom off to the end of the gap. Fine, they're out of the equation. Eventually you end up with "non-aggressive" people behind that won't overtake you, and the "aggressive" ones are so far back they can't see there IS a gap to fill.
Would be interesting to know whether Americans really do behave differently. Only one way to find out I think! Gonna try it and see what occurs.
Part of my journey to and from work is much clogged A14. I shall try his idea over the next few days and count how many cars behind me overtake to fill the gap, and how many push in from another lane. Be intriguing at the least, I think.
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Whilst building up a gap, I do have to say, I've noticed mostly that people don't tend to move into it, unless its near a junction. All other times its not in their field of vision ie within 2inches of the front of their bumper, so they don't even notice it. I would expect, if the traffic is moving more behind though, then people will start to try and cut in, and then reproduce another stoppage to cause problems, but that's behind me....
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One thing the Americans don't have is 300 yard off-slips with a traffic-light controlled roundabout at the end. Anyone commuting on the M3 will be all to aware of the impact this has on the left-hand lane in rush hour as you meet 2 miles of stationary traffic queuing to get into Fleet.
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the impact this has on the left-hand lane in rush hour as you meet 2 miles of stationary traffic queuing to get into Fleet.
Literally.... all too often... :-(
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Try it on the A14? you gotta be jokin, an artic will be in your 2 car length gap before you can say Willie Betz - let alone Nobert Dentresangle
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I have read his ideas before. It does seem to work. I do it all the time even when just approaching roundabouts so I hardly ever have to stop. It makes driving much more smooth when in a stop n start situation. It is no good and awful traffic (like the M6 of an evening) but it tends to work. I do see a lot of people screaming passed then having to stop dead while I just meander up to the obstruction which often clears by the time I get there. They must think I'm psychic ;-)
teabelly
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Just to add that on my first A14 attempt last night:
People who overtook and cut into my gap: - 1
People from next lane who nipped over: - 0
Number of times cars in front braked to a stop and I (and all followers) didn't have to: - 5
And indeed, looking in the rear view mirror there was a stream of cars all travelling at a nice 25 to 30 instead of stopping every few yards.
Not very scientific but even so, it LOOKS as though it works quite well.
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Tried it myself tonight on the A10 and yes, it worked!!! The car's always itching to get going, but I'll try and train her to be patient!!! Will try again in the morning and see how it goes.
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