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Mathematicians Solve the Mystery of Traffic Jams

Posted by Zonk on from the next-they'll-use-geometry-on-the-mystery-of-the-haunted-amusement-park dept.

mlimber writes "Do you ever find yourself in a traffic jam, thinking, 'Man, there must be a bad accident up ahead,' but as you plod along you see no evidence of any crash? Some mathematicians have solved the mystery by developing a mathematical model that shows how one driver hitting the brakes a little too hard can cascade into a backup miles behind. The mathematicians' future research will investigate how automatic braking systems may alleviate the problem."

13 of 629 comments (clear)

  1. Small miscalculation by TJ_Phazerhacki · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sure. But what they forgot to include was the variable of EVERYONE IN THE OTHER LANE STOPPING TO WATCH.

    --
    Physics is nothing like religion. If it was, we'd have an easier time trying to raise money!
  2. Einstein by imstanny · · Score: 3, Funny
    "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity" - Einstein

    ...and he was only sure about the latter.

  3. next by kurtis25 · · Score: 4, Funny

    maybe mathematicians can solve why old news appears on slashdot.

    1. Re:next by mnmn · · Score: 2, Funny

      They did. It starts with one editor accepting the story without checking it, and that starts a chain reaction. Dups start coming in faster than editors can check and they're all accepted.

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      "Give orange me give eat orange me eat orange give me eat orange give me you." -Nim Chimpsky
  4. Re:Not suprised by dkleinsc · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've actually gotten pretty good and figuring which jams are accident related and those that are just people being retarded.

    Most accidents are also due to people being retarded.

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    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  5. XKCD by RobBebop · · Score: 3, Funny

    Disgruntled traffic engineers cause traffic jams!

    :)

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    Support the 30 Hour Work Week!!!
  6. Re:Not suprised by bhima · · Score: 2, Funny

    Me too. I remember the last traffic jam I was in where it was just people being retarded.

    It was 1960.

    --
    Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
  7. Re:Bad drivers = traffic jams by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Probably because the exit ramp required a right turn, and all of the NASCAR fans were befuddled.

  8. Indeed by Colin+Smith · · Score: 2, Funny

    Once you understand how it works, you can create traffic jams in even relatively light traffic. If you're really good, they're still there when you go home the other direction.

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    Deleted
  9. Re:Old news by PachmanP · · Score: 2, Funny

    I was doing that one time and while I was occupied counting the guy slammed on his brakes and I hit him. Incidentally it caused some rediculous gridlock.

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    You're thinking small. Why miniaturize the laser, when we could instead enlarge the sharks? -John Searle
  10. Obligatory Simpsons by LM741N · · Score: 4, Funny

    The episode where the town charter declares the smartest people to be in charge in the absensce of Mayor Quimby.

    Lenny comes up with the best idea. Traffic lights only have red and yellow, no green. Traffic is speeded up immensely.

  11. Re:Bad drivers = traffic jams by servognome · · Score: 2, Funny

    If they had used their signal, I could have proceeded.
    I learned in traffic school, a turn signal just means the light is working. At best they can let you know what the person might do, who hasn't left a turn signal on for a few blocks?
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  12. Re:Bad drivers = traffic jams by fireteller2 · · Score: 2, Funny

    If a national speed limit was set at 25 mph (and strictly enforced) then the number of traffic fatalities would almost certainly drop dramatically - not because of reduced frequency of accidents but because the accidents that did occur would be less severe.
    Yes, but hand gun deaths would make a sharp rise.