Has anyone every sat in traffic for hours, and there was no accident anywhere.?

Question

Then all of a sudden traffic just starts moving. You ask your self what has been the hold up this whole time. Its like the old woman who was going 20 miles an hour finally exit. Does anyone else experience this?

Answer 1

Traffic delays make their way down a whole highway like a wave in a pond - if someone stops for five minutes that five minute breakage in flow will reduce as it travels through the traffic but you'll find cars will be stopping and starting with seemingly no cause in very densly packed traffic. The more dense the traffic the worse it is, where there's a decent gap in traffic those waves get ebbed out. If you're dubious, sit somewhere where you can see a crowded highway and just watch, you'll notice for a car that holds up traffic, the wave of stoppage will travel up the line of cars in a most fascinating fashion!

Answer 2

If you live in a heavy traffic area, there are many factors to this problem. It could be someone in the right lane going excessively slow, to the flow of traffic. People coming up behind the slow vehicle, switching into the left lane. It could be the person in the left lane riding beside the vehicle in the right. It usually starts by someone not being in the lane they need anyway. Causing a sudden move. Cutting someone off. Know your exit, get in the lane you need, at least two miles back, will usually cure this. But you will always have those going slower than the flow of traffic, and those who must be the first vehicle in line. So I suggest, set back, enjoy the exhaust fumes, and wait it out. Or move to a less congested area. Less headache and less fuel consumption.

Answer 3

I have! I'll be driving on the freeway, same way as always, and at this certain point there's an exit on a certain street or whatev. The traffic always builds up for a few miles (even on a Saturday) until we pass the "exit ramp" for that street.

I'll never understand it, but it's completely weird. Even when there is no traffic, it will still back up for a bit, and once we've passed the street "name" it's all back to normal. I know this exit ramp is not a busy place either - so it's odd that something like this would happen at a place that wasn't ever busy. It's like people have some weird psychological problem when they pass by it.

Answer 4

Hey! I live in LA and I know traffic. I heard a coupla years ago scientists were working on a model of traffic trying to find out how it worked. They finally compared it to blood. Yes blood! Larger vessels flowing into smaller and smaller ones, they back up with many many waiting in line. Like traffic. And we, the People, probably spent tens of millions of dollars for this study. Big deal, eh?. . . we're still stuck in traffic.

Answer 5

you might be experiencing an accident that blocked all lanes a few miles up. By the time YOU start moving again the wreckage has been hauled off. Happens a lot.

Answer 6

Sat in traffic for 20+ hrs during the hurricane evactuations last year

Answer 7

Hello Betty Nurse,
Perhaps they cleared up the accident by the time you got to where it was. Or they were doing road maintenance. Yes, I have had that experience on route 80!

Answer 8

To help improve the flow of traffic you should exit your vehicle and run up and down the lanes flailing you arms and screaming. Where I live, everyone does it, and it works great.

Answer 9

Yes twice a month at least. I just read a book or straighten out the car while I wait.

Answer 10

It's a global thing, same in The Netherlands. When cars and their drivers need to merge it goes wrong. I think this is too difficult ;-) and mankind is not made to drive a car.