2006-09-09 02:23:41 · 6 answers · asked by Avationlover 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Chicago
It seems kind of simple, but actually traffic congestion and traffic jams are caused by one person tapping their brakes in heavy traffic, for whatever reason (to gawk at an accident, see a cop, someone cuts them off, etc.).
Once someone hits their brakes, the car behind them must hit theirs, but continue braking slightly longer than the car in front of them, just because of the reaction time required to move your foot off the break pedal after seeing the brake lights go off on the car in front. In heavy traffic, this cycle continues until, eventually cars are almost coming to a complete stop. This is why often times, traffic seems to go from almost a dead stop to flowing at full-speed -- because that is the point the initial braking started the whole mess.
I know it sounds simple, but this is the cause of most traffic jams.
2006-09-09 14:07:02 · answer #1 · answered by gladerade 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From a Civil Engineer...at a certain speed, cars have to stay a certain distance apart from each other. At 60 mph, at 2 seconds following, cars need to be 90 feet part. At 40 mph, at 2 seconds following, cars need to be 60 feet apart. When there are more cars on the roadway than everyone can keep the safe following distance, everyone has to slow down so all the cars can fit!
2006-09-09 12:16:24 · answer #2 · answered by wanderingheffalump 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yep, I agree with beer fart's comment
2006-09-13 06:24:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
from out of towners looking up at the aeroplanes and heelocopters.
2006-09-11 02:52:21 · answer #4 · answered by tichur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BECAUSE someone stops in the middle for no reasons. TAXI"S ALSO
2006-09-10 14:49:47 · answer #5 · answered by rocksteadyman2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when someone ahead of you is broke down and everyone has to slow down and look at it, it cause a chain reaction
2006-09-09 09:29:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋