Mar 12 2008Mathematical Society Of Traffic Flow In Japan Replicates "Shockwave" Traffic Jams
The Mathematical Society of Traffic Flow in Japan used a test track to replicate traffic jams that seem to occur for no reason. These "shockwave" traffic jams travel backwards at about 20 km (~12 mph). That's why you don't always see the massive wreck you expected after sitting in traffic for so long. It's just the result of varying speeds, women drivers, and probably some asshole on a cellphone.
NOTE: Joking ladies. I have two or three female friends so you know I'm not sexist. I have nothing against women drivers. Just my wife, because she sucks at driving. She couldn't keep her car off the sidewalk if it meant a lifetime supply of Little Debbie snack cakes.
Traffic Flow Video [notcot]
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Reader Comments
1. guate6 - March 12, 2008 4:52 PM
Um...ok. So how will this improve the traffic?
2. grandmastabu - March 12, 2008 5:11 PM
A german television station made this experiment at least 5 years ago. Hence, nobody needs a japanese mathematical society of traffic flow to prove that.
3. DeesMutherphukkinnutz - March 12, 2008 5:16 PM
grandmastabu,
you're f***ing clownshoes. Get a life you dick.
4. Atrides - March 12, 2008 5:23 PM
That's pretty cool.
5. SlowMonkey - March 12, 2008 5:28 PM
It's not official til the Chinese do it. ~ "my kung fu can beat your karate" ~
6. guate6 - March 12, 2008 5:31 PM
#3: you're an ass clown.
It'll be at least 20 more years until the U.S. decides to do it...and they'll claim they will do it first, best, and most accurately.
7. RapidOne - March 12, 2008 6:07 PM
I've been f***ing telling people this for 15 years--it's f***ing asshole drivers on the road that cause traffic 75% of the time, but f***ing driving in the f***ing fastlanes and breaking to 60 mph. What the f*** is wrong with people.
8. Maiden Hell - March 12, 2008 7:12 PM
People can't drive. If everyone paced themselves accordingly there would never be any traffic jams.
9. debagger - March 12, 2008 9:50 PM
This only worked because there were asian people driviing. I NO SEE YOU BLAKE!
10. proud asian - March 13, 2008 5:04 AM
debagger, you sad little ass
why dont you find something better to do than insult other races on geekologie
11. laz - March 13, 2008 6:56 AM
#6 heh. nice to see you can laugh at your own kind :)
anyway, this was interesting, cause i have always wondered about this. i hate traffic, and my car doesn't have aircon, and it's hot in africa. and there are far too many bad drivers. and yes, people brake for no reason, and yes, everyone has to slow down to zero to gawk at the crash scene, and, my pet hate, when people drive off from a traffic light, they wait till the car in front is at least 2 car lengths ahead before they start moving....argh! keep your bumper stuck to the car ahead as they pull off and everybody moves off a hell of a lot sooner.
12. guate6 - March 13, 2008 10:46 AM
#11: Who the hell was talking to you? If by "your own kind" you mean people, yeah I laugh at those (myself included) and I don't discriminate against those who are half catholic half jewish. If you refer to "ass clowns" then sorry, I'm no ass clown. But if you want to start a short-lived name-calling game, then be my guest.
13. ummm - March 13, 2008 1:51 PM
#12 i don't think 11 was trying to insult you....
14. laz - March 14, 2008 4:46 AM
# 13 is right. i wasn't trying to insult you. I have followed your posts for a long time on this site, and you would be very easy to insult, however, i try to keep my insults to a general stereotype, thereby avoiding getting personal with anyone.
I'd prefer to leave it at that, but i wont back down from a fight - especially on the internet, where there is little chance that you could actually break my nose ;-)
15. CGB Spender - May 30, 2008 5:39 PM
It could just mean you have a long tongue. You could still be sexest.
16. ugg australia - February 7, 2010 3:55 AM
This is great! Really. I'll make my own little contribution to the list soon
17. Chanzo - February 22, 2010 1:54 PM
Gosh. Even just _thinking_ about traffic jams gets people cussing mad!