is there a name or theory for traffic slowing down or stopping on a highway for no apparent reason. if so wha?

Answer 1

PBS - Scientific American Frontiers "
LIFE'S LITTLE QUESTIONS"
SHOW 904

Answer 2

People braking in the middle of traffic can cause a ripple effect back in traffic. Other times, you will be stuck for ages and suddenly moving with no evidence of a crash etc and is sometimes from a 'rolling block' The police will hold back traffic and roll slowly along the highway,so that important or vulnerable people, like the pope or presidents can make safe passage to airports and the like.

Answer 3

My Ex-Husband! ...who would stop in the middle of a busy highway thinking there was a stop sign, turn off his lights at night because he was twiddling with the knobs, and almost turn in front of a cars again on a busy highway...stopped only by my screaming. Oh yes, and consistently driving 35mph in a 60mph zone, on a busy highway.

Answer 4

Stupidity

Answer 5

I generally hear of them referred to as traffic waves. There actually is a bit of research on phenomina like this. Traffic science can be thought of as a subset of group dynamics.

Answer 6

rubberneckin is usually the term we use around here...when there is a car on the side of the road whatever the case may be and people want to be nosey...they slow traffic down by slowin down to look at what is going on....also refered to as giraffe neckin...

Answer 7

Gridlock

Answer 8

TEchnology