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Mathematicians Solve the Mystery of Traffic Jams
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."
We already have those automatic driving contraptions. They're called "trains" and "busses". Trouble is, they don't go everywhere that people need to go.
The trouble with automated systems is that they assume ideal conditions. Anyone who's experienced at driving on ice and in deep snow will tell you how much fun it is to have your ABS take over and spin you around a couple times (or crawl up the side of the plowed-snow bank along the road), when left to your own devices you'd have geared down (yes, auto trannies CAN do that), likely not used the brakes at all, and slowed *safely*.
~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
Actually I suspect YOU follow too closely AND brake :P
Brakes are safety devices, they try to add some control to the mommentum using friction.
Letting your foot off the gas instead of depending on a safety device would be the thing to do.
Safety devices fail, and usually at the worst possible time.
Just so you know, when you are on my ass on the interstate, my
impact efficient Hummer has really good brakes. Watch the pretty
red lights.
Let me guess, you have not been driving for 40 plus years.