Ever wondered why traffic jams occur? I’ve always wondered why traffic even exists on fast, free-flowing roads, like freeways and highways. Apparently, according to an experiment, traffic occurs out of nowhere. All it takes is for one idiot…err, driver to slow down. “After that first vehicle brakes, the driver behind must also slow, and a shockwave jam of bunching cars appears, traveling backwards through the traffic.”

In the experiment, Japanese researchers put 22 cars on a circular track. They asked all of the drivers to maintain a 30 km/h speed. At first, every car was moving smoothly. However, over time, they began to bunch up for no apparent reason.

So, there you have it. Inapt driving skills causes traffic.

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Via: New Scientist Tech