What causes traffic jams?

Question

It seems that if there are no accidents and everyone drives the speed limit, there should be no traffic jams. So what's up? Why are there traffic jams?

Answer 1

accident

Answer 2

I live in a town where there are 26 lights in a row for 5 miles.

What I can tell you what leaves a lot of traffic is unawareness due to cell phones, eating and talking to the passenger. This leaves the driver either driving slower than normal or driving all over the road.

Also, there are wrecks that occur on the road. When a wreck occurs and traffic is still moving but slowly, that means that a lot of people are slowing down to turn their curious heads to see who got hurt or arrested. This is known as "rubbernecking". There's also the possibility that a cop has to direct traffic due to the smashed vehicles still being on the road.

Don't forget road work either. For some reason, the city or state always has something to do on the road whether it being a sewer problem or fixing potholes, which is never done here (There are potholes everywhere!)

But, MOSTLY, it has to due with people trying to change lanes constantly. They switch lanes left and right just trying to move faster and it slows down traffic. It also consists of them changing lanes and turning in front of traffic, which is incredibly annoying.

I'm sure there's a lot more reasons, but these are the mostly the ones that are noticeable.

Answer 3

In New York-New Jersey, there are many reasons.

During rush hour, especially at Toll, some cash payers does not have enough toll fare because MTA and PANY&NJ just increase their fare on toll.

Also, sometimes accident on major highways.

Also, there are constructions work like closing one tube of tunnel or 1-lane open on lane.

During rush hour, 34th and 42nd Sts get very busy with traffic which cause traffic jam.

Also, Queensboro Bridge (free) is also mess.

On the weekend, especally when there's Puerto Rican Day Parade, it cause major traffic in East Midtown well as street fair/festivals.

Answer 4

Because there are too many cars.  

It's like a pipe rated for 5 gallons per minute and you try to cram 10 gallons per minute through it.

Answer 5

hat drivers who sit in the fast lane, then their friends from lawn bowls decide to sit in the lane next to them who are also only go slow so they don't spill their cup of tea.

Answer 6

Sad to say but most drivers don't belong on the road.  They study for the driving test but once they have it, almost all of the knowledge is forgotten, ignored, or somehow just plain not used at all.

I honestly believe that if people stuck with actually doing exactly as they answered their driving test questions, there would be maybe 97.4% less traffic jams.

Did that make sense..?  It made sense in my head but now that I re-read it, wow....I sound a little loopy....

Answer 7

Because not everyone will drive the speed limit. Other reasons for jam ups are: rush hour, construction, accidents (could be too far ahead of you to see), inadequate road design, overpopulation, lack of use of public transit. The list could go on forever...

Answer 8

They happen when too many people try to merge onto the highway at once.  People have to brake to make room, causing a domino effect backward.  It's similar to what happens when you try to pour something through a funnel too fast and everything gets clogged.

Answer 9

A lot of traffic jams are caused where two major highways meet, and in some cases there are possibly as many as 8 or more lanes of traffic converging into 4 or 5 lanes. Everyone must slow down and crunch together. The more vehicles there are, the more slowdown there is. That's why traffic is worse during peak commute hours. There are also many places where lanes end or vehicles are entering or leaving the highway, and they are traveling slower than other vehicles. There is also a substantial problem with driver attitude, which manifests itself in things like blocking other drivers' lane changes and merges, purposely driving slower than the posted speed limit for the purpose of antagonizing other drivers, switching lanes abruptly causing other drivers to slow down, and other aggressive behavior, not to mention that a large number of people are simply not good drivers and they cause traffic just because they unknowingly drive poorly. As long as humans are at the controls of the vehicles, there will be traffic jams. If humans were replaced by perfect unemotional robots behind the wheel, we would have far fewer problems on the road.