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I've been thinking lots about traffic. Specifically, about traffic jams. Doesn't everyone wonder how they start, and why? Well I have, and here's my two Canadian cents. Which as we all know, ain't worth much these days. Then again, my thoughts ain't exactly precious gems either....

First, we must understand the driving behaviour pattern of the average Cager. (Cager, as you all remember, are poeple who sit in their car, believing that the structure, much like a cage, will protect them in an accident, come hither or nether.) Your average Cager doesn't understand physics, much less driving dynamics. For example, s/he only knows that the left peddle is to stop, and the right peddle is for go. What they don't understand is inertia, or the lack of it. When they see traffic up ahead begin to slow, and brake lights begin to appear on the cars ahead, our Cager will go: "Hmmm, traffic up ahead beginning to slow, the left peddle is to slow/stop, I should use that now."; thus, applying brakes. Of course, the Cager behind him/her will also brake, and so on, so forth, until everyone is slowing down to a crawl. This creating a traffic slowdown, leading to a jam.

Toronto city traffic, much like any other metropolis, is frought with tailgaters and hurry-uppers. They love to dart in and out of traffic like they were in an Indy race, lapping slower drivers. I mean, I know everyone's in a rush, and even I have darted in and out on the odd occasion (actually I rarely do it in my car, only on my bike, b/c I can manuveur/brake/accelerate so much better), but sometimes, it's not worth the risk to save an extra 5 minutes. Of course, if you needed to use the washroom badly, I can certainly sympathize.

Whatever, the reason is, these drivers causes slow downs. Remember, the average Cager uses his/her brakes at the slightest provocation, and if these Indy wannabes dart in and out, the Cager will panic and exercise their right to slow down.

What we have to teach these inept Cager is the theory of inertia. When you release the "gas" peddle, the car does NOT keep moving at the same rate. (Cruise control notwithstanding) Infact, when you lift your foot off the go peddle, it actually begins to slow by itself. Hark, can you believe it? Yes you can!

What I'm saying is this. As long as you're not following too close, you don't need to use your brakes to slow down. Let off the gas. Yes, that's it simple.
This will actually alleviate some of the traffic congestion caused by your insistance on slamming on the brakes each time you need to slow down a little. That brake light is a warning, it's telling other cagers you need to slow enough that there's a chance you have to stop. But a lot of the times, if you're not tailgating, and you have enough space between cars, you can actually let your foot off the gas, cruise, and then keep going, all without braking! So look far ahead, and judge traffic movement. If way up ahead, the cars have stopped dead, then chances are you may need to as well. Slow down early, but without braking. There's a chance that you can actually maintain momentum, so that when you get up to the troubled spot, it be clear enough for you to go. I know that you can't avoid braking all the time, but you can avoid braking EVERY time. So learn it!

I've been experimenting with this technique, and it works like a charm. Yes, I'm moving at a snail's pace, but at least I'm still moving. Psychologically speaking, it is much more refreshing to be moving a little at a constant rate, than pure stop and go traffic. At least for me, this is true. I know that our roadways aren't plentiful enough to accomodate all these vehicles on the road at once, and there's no way to solve traffic jams, save building so many roadways that it exceeds volume. If your highways are anything like Toronto's, there's always going to be "trouble" spots, where 2 highways merge into 1, etc. But on the whole, it is people who apply their brakes prematurely that starts the slowing down of traffic. We're a lot like lemmings, following one car in front of the next. Monkey see, monkey do. That type of thing.

Get your foot of the gas and learn to judge distance. Don't rely on just your brakes. If you want to get home at a timely fashion, learn to help your fellow Cager drive better by not making them panic and letting them hit the brakes too often. If you follow this one simple little rule, I assure you, you'll feel better about yourself and your commute home. Give a whirl, and let me know if I'm right....

....Of course, cutting in and out of traffic can be kinda fun.
posted by losir at 11:42 AM