Rude Drivers Reduce Traffic Jams

BuzzSkyline writes "Traffic jams are minimized if a significant fraction of drivers break the rules by doing things like passing on the wrong side or changing lanes too close to an intersection. The insight comes from a cellular automata study published this month in the journal Physical Review E. In effect, people who disregard the rules help to break up the groups that form as rule-followers clump together. The risk of jamming is lower if all people obey the rules than if they all disobey them, according to the analysis, but jamming risk is lowest when about 40 percent of people drive like jerks."

Comments

Re:Police Siren

[fastest fascist]

That depends on the loudness of your horn. If it displaces enough air to actually move the cars forward, you might be a helpful jerk.

Re:and yet NYC still has traffic jams

[sys.stdout.write]

especially on the Belt Parkway where people seem to slow down to 30mph to go over a bridge

The rule only applies if SOME people break the rules, not every one of you hot-dog-eating-bastards.

Re:I hate people

[maxume]

I suggest relaxing with a nice drink before you drive.

Re:and yet NYC still has traffic jams

[snowraver1]

I actually saw a woman driving with her elbow this morning. She had the cellphone in her right hand and her left hand was blocking the sun from her eyes.

That bitch really needs to learn how to use her knee.