How to stop traffic jams?

[Nuvolari_the_legend]

I'm trying to find out how to reduce traffic jams (in Holland but I think that this problem is everywhere the same). I'm doing it with two others and I'm competing against a lot of other groups, all secondary school pupils. The group whit the best idea wins 2.500 euro.

Because I don't drive a car and because I'm only 15, I don't really have experience with traffic jams. If you could help me with some ideas and answers, that would be grate.

Some questions:
1. How does a traffic jam actually start?
2. Why is the trafic not able to move faste. I mean when the people at the front drive faster, everybody could?
3. Why get some lanes closed en why is it not one but sometimes two or even more?

A solution I was thinking of was: A road white four lanes (at least). The two on the right have a minimum speed of 85 km/h and a top speed of 105 km/h. These two are for slower traffic and trucks. The two on the left have a minimum speed of 105 km/h and a top speed of 130 km/h. These two are for faster traffic.

All help is welcome.

[el-Magico]

Increase the fuel price to €5,- a liter..

[CBeck113]

Sorry, but no one here is going to do this project for you, but I'm sure you'll get a lot of tips. Here's one, just to make sure I'm not completely wrong:

Since you're still in school, go some place where you know that there are daily traffic jams for the rush hour traffic. Pay very good attention, since it happens so fast that you may not realize it. But the mechanism behind it is pure physics.

Good luck!

P.S.: Ask specific questions about the theory and you will be helped. I don't want to be mean, but you will only learn it when you do all the work yourselves.

[Blanchimont]

1. Watch this video and think about what you can see:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Suugn-p5C1M[/youtube]

2. Think about ant colonies!

[tim|away]

Guys, don't be so harsh with this guy. He is 15 and it's perfectly understandable that he has no experience with traffic jams. Also, he isn't asking anyone to come up with ideas for him, he did ask very specific questions.

@Nuvolari_the_legend
1. How does a traffic jam actually start?
In simple terms you can think of it as a ratio of roadspace and number of cars. If the number of moving cars goes up, in theory you'd have to increase the roadspace relative to that in order to keep the same ratio. So, if the number of moving cars goes up (e.g. rush hour) whilst the roadspace remains the same, you will get denser traffic that might lead to a jam. Equally, if the number of roadspace goes down (e.g. accident, tree knocked over, roadworks) whilst the number of moving cars stays teh same, you will also get denser traffic.

Fun thought on the side:
Traffic lights act temporarily as road blocks and close all lines, therefore reducing the roadspace temporarily. Therefore, traffic lights create micro traffic jams inevitably all the time which is a drawback that is is considered worth it, as it improves safety.

2. Why is the trafic not able to move faste. I mean when the people at the front drive faster, everybody could?
You are having the right idea. In theory, everyone could move faster and it wouldn't slow anyone down. I hope you (or someone else here) will run the numbers of a 6 lane-highway with a 60mph limit being reduced to 2 lanes (i.e. 4 out of lanes closed). In the real world, there are traffic lights, speed limits and most importantly the behaviour of human beings that can't be easily moulded.

3. Why get some lanes closed en why is it not one but sometimes two or even more?
That's a question for politicians that obsess about health and safety. I can't help you here.


Here are some questions for you to think about:
- Is traffic jam a problem that occurs 24/7 or does it happen only at certain times? If there are peaks in traffic density at certain times, is there something one could do to smoothen those peaks?
- What is more feasable: To increase the available road space or to reduce the number of moving cars and what problems are there?
- Are there parameters in traffic flow management that could be optimised (maybe only at certain times) for the good of everyone?

Good luck!

[Kiril Varbanov]

Sorry for the quick answer on such a big issue, but I can think of two things:

1. Car Pooling - check the numbers here, for example: http://www.carpooling.com/

2. Self-regulated, adjustable traffic lights. This is a long shot. Traffic lights are all connected via neural network, which is able to analyze traffic patterns, and then in rush hours quite simply allows more cars on the most congested lanes, but at the same time regulating the rest of the flow, i.e. where there is so called 'green wave', so that there is no new queue created.

This is visible on newly created road lanes with fresh traffic lights. Since nobody from the local transportation office cares to watch and analyze the traffic, one of the lanes is always full, while the other two, on T-cross-road, are empty on equal terms. This means that it's green for 30 seconds for each and that's it. It would make a tons more sense to have 20-20-60 green for, respectively, the low-usage two lanes and for the most busy one.

[gold333]

The cheapest answer with 0 change to infrastructure is quite simple.

1. Mandatory GPS in all cars.
2. Every driver upon starting a journey enters his destination.
3. A supercomputer works out all routes for all cars.

[Writinglife]

The cheapest answer with 0 change to infrastructure is quite simple.

1. Mandatory GPS in all cars.
2. Every driver upon starting a journey enters his destination.
3. A supercomputer works out all routes for all cars.

Not feasible for a variety of reasons, including differing standards of driving, familiarity with destinations, travel times, requirements etc.

Most traffic jams come down to simple human behaviour. Usually it comes from 1 person's reactions being slower than the norm, and it has a knock on effect. If you're in school, arrange an experiement. Get your classmates to form a line and walk around, then get them to stop, as though at lights. Then tell them the lights are green. you can see for yourself how some of your class will be quicker at moving than others, then magnify this by 10, 20 or 30 times. Then throw in visibiitu or tiredness factors and you'll see the causes of most traffic jams aren't that far from the causes of most accidents.

[monsi]

Understanding speed/flow curves, and the more computationally useful speed/density curves is at the root of things. For any given road design you can only push the density so far before the flow breaks down. As to what makes it ultimately break down, it is usually junction effects or the modest loss of capacity that poor weather causes.

You may want to look up some general traffic engineering information. The US Highway Capacity Manual is very good, but huge. You have to pay money for the latest 2010 Highway Capacity Manual, but you can find a downloadable older version out there for free. A good degree level textbook is here http://www.amazon.com/Transport-Plannin ... 0340662794 but it rather depends on the level you want to get into this ! If you are searching on the internet queries tend to bring up very detailed scholarly stuff, which I rather doubt you want. From what I can see google image search actually pulls up the most useful diagrams and overview information - try 'speed flow curves images' in google, and use the image browser.

Modern solutions to avoid flow breakdown on freeways/motorways use technology to smooth the flow by careful dynamic speed limits control and reduce speed differentials so as to allow reliable flow at high densities - managed motorway technology. The most advanced implementation I am aware of in the world at this time is the Vic Roads M1 (just stick 'vic roads m1' into google and you will get a number of pertinent links)

Have fun. It is a complex area, full of difficult engineering, analytical, political and commercial challenges.

[monsi]

Keeping it really simple:

Why you get jams - because the road is over capacity.

How to solve - reduce demand, or increase the capacity of the road.

How to increase the capacity - reengineer it to a better more capable, usually bigger road. Or, appearing gradually now, introduce automated driverless vehicles that will allow the road to operate at a much higher density.

How to reduce demand - over to you ... transport economists would usually suggest road user pricing as a good place to start.

[neilbah]

As blanchimonts video demonstrates and others have mentioned there are shock wave effects, in the UK we sometimes call them phantom traffic jams, these are particularly common on faster roads such as motorways because at some point someone reacts to a situation by braking heavily and then the cars behind bunch up rapidly - sometimes bringing the road to a standstill even though there is no blockage or accident. Several schemes have been tried to cure this including variable speed limits depending on how busy the road is.

Many traffic jams are caused by the working hours of the majority, ie those that work between 9-5 with peaks in traffic at either end of the day. Schemes to control this problem include multi lane highways where there is no central reservation and the number of lanes flowing into or out of a town/city can be varied depending on need, this is not without its own hazards-the obvious one being the possibility of a head on collision. Some cities have tried alternating the days certain number plates (odd/even) can enter a city which isnt that practical for anyone.


Congestion Charging - only allowing the Rich who are care free money wise or those that absolutely require access to the town or city center for business purposes. Eco cars are normally exempt from the charge but for anyone else there quite a hefty fine if not paying the fee.

Park and Ride schemes and high parking fees in towns are ways for local authorities to generate revenues, reduce traffic and force the peasants onto busses from specially constructed sites out of town.

Other scenarios to consider are the 'school run' or some drivers pure laziness of doing a short commute when they might be in walking distance of their destination. weather can play its role too. Population is increasing and more and more cars are joining the system, there is only so much space on a 2D surface, it will probably take levitating cars to solve the issue but in the mean time with driver-less cars on the horizon there is potential for cars driving bumper to bumper in a controlled manner to maximize the space and speed or a pod system such as that at Heathrow airport or currently being installed in Milton Keynes. Sorry if any of this covers ground already covered.

[Manoah2u]

I'm trying to find out how to reduce traffic jams (in Holland but I think that this problem is everywhere the same). I'm doing it with two others and I'm competing against a lot of other groups, all secondary school pupils. The group whit the best idea wins 2.500 euro.

Because I don't drive a car and because I'm only 15, I don't really have experience with traffic jams. If you could help me with some ideas and answers, that would be grate.

Some questions:
1. How does a traffic jam actually start?
2. Why is the trafic not able to move faste. I mean when the people at the front drive faster, everybody could?
3. Why get some lanes closed en why is it not one but sometimes two or even more?

A solution I was thinking of was: A road white four lanes (at least). The two on the right have a minimum speed of 85 km/h and a top speed of 105 km/h. These two are for slower traffic and trucks. The two on the left have a minimum speed of 105 km/h and a top speed of 130 km/h. These two are for faster traffic.

All help is welcome.

so you want us to do all the work and cash the 2500 without doing anything yourself? doesn't work like that, that's not a project. you do your own research and analysis and based upon that you figure out a possibility.

don't expect to find a fix because the entire country has that problem and it's been like that for ages, and so it has been in many other countries aswell.

the above japenese test shows the problem. for no apparent reason traffic jams occur. one can only guess for a reason, and it probably is simply one person that loses attention or focus that'll create a domino effect that can't be fixed because other cars will not respond adequately.

various drive lane speeds will not do anything, it'll make things more dangerous and only cause accidents and slows traffic coming up behind when a car wants to speed up to another drivelane.

the real problem of traffic jams in the Netherlands is because people are ignorant and only occupied with themselves and that's why traffic jams only occur at on-and off sections on highways when cars sort out or sort in. nobody wants to give, others just jump lane without paying attention to the rest and that's the problem. everybody is too selfish in their driving.
interestingly, in germany and belgium these problems don't exist in such extreme manner as in the netherlands.
traffic flow is regulated in Nl's in some sections like delft, rotterdam, etc. by traffic lights which will allow cars one by one access to the freeway.

traffic jams occur mostly because people don't think. they want to drive on the outer lane then their exit pops up and they'll swerve right and vise versa. if one person would do this, there wouldn't be a problem, but everybody's doing the same, and everybody wants to stay at home at the last moment and haste to their destination.

in addition, the complete metropolitan infrastructure doesn't help. commuters go from city centre to city centre just for desk jobs. if offices were built solely in parks alongside freeways and easily reachable through public transport, it would save a lot of traffic.

you can't stop traffic jams, you can only find solutions to return flow when traffic jams occur.

[bdr529]

I'm trying to find out how to reduce traffic jams
Because I don't drive a car and because I'm only 15, I don't really have experience with traffic jams. If you could help me with some ideas and answers, that would be grate.

Some questions:
1. How does a traffic jam actually start?
2. Why is the trafic not able to move faste. I mean when the people at the front drive faster, everybody could?
3. Why get some lanes closed en why is it not one but sometimes two or even more?
All help is welcome.

1. too many cars trying to use the highways at the sometime ( rush hour traffic)
accedents that cause traffic jams and accedents caused by the traffic jam
Poor road design, sharp bends/ up hill or downhill sections, weather, bad driving habits, not being in proper lane,
not paying attention, following to close. all slow traffic down.
Here in the Toronto area we have some on ramps that controll the time between cars entering the highway by a stop light on the on ramp traffic this helps a little, the 401 highway in Toronto is the busiest in Northamerica with over 450000 vehicals travel though Toronto everday other then getting half the people to use public trans. were just going to have to live with it. thank god I only have 12 more years in the rat race

2. there is no actual front so to speak not alot of cars on the highway at 5:30am , more at 6:00 and even more at 7:00am etc.etc ...and every on ramp has more and more cars entering the highway further adding to the congestion already on the highway. most people start work between 7am and 9am and finish at 3-5pm not much you can do about this.

[gold333]

The cheapest answer with 0 change to infrastructure is quite simple.

1. Mandatory GPS in all cars.
2. Every driver upon starting a journey enters his destination.
3. A supercomputer works out all routes for all cars.

Not feasible for a variety of reasons, including differing standards of driving, familiarity with destinations, travel times, requirements etc.

Most traffic jams come down to simple human behaviour. Usually it comes from 1 person's reactions being slower than the norm, and it has a knock on effect. If you're in school, arrange an experiement. Get your classmates to form a line and walk around, then get them to stop, as though at lights. Then tell them the lights are green. you can see for yourself how some of your class will be quicker at moving than others, then magnify this by 10, 20 or 30 times. Then throw in visibiitu or tiredness factors and you'll see the causes of most traffic jams aren't that far from the causes of most accidents.

I'm really trying to see this post as anything but a knee-jerk naysayer doing what comes naturally. I don't understand any of your reasons for why this wouldn't work.

Travel Times? Familiarity with destinations? Requirements? What requirements are there other than getting to the destination in the shortest possible time?

Really, if all cars had a mandatory GPS and a CRAY supercomputer worked out destinations for all vehicles in motion over all possible roads why wouldn't it be better than what we have now?

Do you think Joe Bloggs would say: No I REFUSE to take this COMPUTERS advice, I'd rather be home 4 hours later, just because I want to be the ONE IN CONTROL and NOT this SATNAV.

Or do you think Joe Bloggs would say what drivers have been saying since satnav became popular: yeah sure whatever gets me home soonest.


Please convince me you were not just naysaying for the sake of naysaying. Or worse still claimed that the problem was impossible to solve for mankind in your view.

[Lycoming]

0 change to infrastructure

1. Mandatory GPS in all cars.

3. A supercomputer works out all routes for all cars.

0 infrastructure, eh....

How to solve - reduce demand, or increase the capacity of the road.

Actually it turns out if you increase capacity, demand will just increase to jam it up again. Hence why the 401 in Toronto is a nightmare during rush hour, despite having 18 lanes.

Really, if all cars had a mandatory GPS and a CRAY supercomputer worked out destinations for all vehicles in motion over all possible roads why wouldn't it be better than what we have now?

What happens if the computer has an error, or crashes? It will be pandemonium. Also, when the road is so full of cars that you can barely squeeze a sheet of paper in between them, you still can't move them along at 80 km/h.

And of course, road works will still screw you over.

Or worse still claimed that the problem was impossible to solve for mankind in your view.

easy solution: nuke the entire thing from orbit. Can't get traffic jams in space. oh wait...