Close Quarters Congestion
Tailgating Slows Down Traffic By Half, According To MIT Researchers
Data shows that average traffic would increase from 1,800 cars per hour/lane on the freeway, to about 3,600.
·
3.8k reads
·
Phantom traffic jams are defined as instances where the roads are slow, but there is no accident, police car, or major event causing it to happen. Turns out, tailgating can often be responsible as this stop-and-go chain breaking causes a chain-reaction where cars take turns slamming on their brakes.
By maintaining an equal distance to both the car directly in front of and behind them, drivers could double traffic speeds, according to MIT research.
Via dougiesharpe.
