https://traffic-simulation.de/
This site simulates traffic flow and lets you play around with variables to see how traffic responds. It's pretty neat to see how traffic patterns emerge
this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2025
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Although traffic can be caused by something in the road, most traffic is caused by people driving poorly. You can think of traffic as waves.
To put it most simply, if you follow too close, you cause traffic, and if you leave a lot of space in front of you (think 5 or 10 second rule instead of 3 second rule), you alleviate traffic.
There are multiple reasons. Here are a couple. The harder you brake, the more traffic is caused, and if you have a lot of space in front, you don't have to brake as hard. Also, if you prevent other cars from changing lanes, that also causes traffic. By leaving space, you allow cars to move freely.
I feel validated every time I keep a reasonable speed and the intersection turns green without me ever having to touch the brakes, especially when passing the fools who went stupid fast just to stop at a red light.
I feel validated every time I bike because I'm not driving a steel deathtrap that belches pollution (:
No traffic issues here!
I eventually moved somewhere with one of the best public transportation systems in the world though ;)
Also, if you leave space you make merging easier, alleviating traffic, and you also don’t have to brake as much. When people see brake lights in front of them they’re more likely to brake, causing a wave that increases congestion.
Plus you’re less likely to hit the person in front of you, reducing accidents.
Yes, however this also assumes that you don't take the road if it is at full capacity. Ramp metering solves this somewhat but also creates traffic before the ramp. If too many vehicles are using the road traffic will come, no matter how good the drivers are
Everything breaks down at its limits. We shouldn't really be using individual vehicles in the first place.
I believe traffic “moves” backwards around 12mph? So if someone slams on their brakes, it creates a ripple effect that is seen backwards at that rate, so you can calculate the distance/time of traffic to estimate when and where some incident occurred, even when there’s nothing there.
Sounds like you're describing a shockwave traffic jam.
That’s the one! I forgot the name for it — thanks!
I think part of the answer is transient bottlenecks and a backward propagation of the traffic waves they create. They're caused when a large number of cars merge onto the freeway at an onramp, slowing down the right two lanes; when some jerk cuts someone off, causing a momentary slowdown; when there's something interesting on the side of the road that people decelerate slightly to look at. Of course, actual bottlenecks obviously cause a backup as well.
That's why it's important to slow down as soon as you get there, don't want the other drivers to get lost.
It's because of all the cyclists! Can't you see? /s 🤔