Comments on: When Slower is Faster http://www.howwedrive.com/2008/07/12/when-slower-is-faster/ Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:22:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ron http://www.howwedrive.com/2008/07/12/when-slower-is-faster/#comment-37 Ron Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:16:12 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=102#comment-37 I don't believe this simulation is correct. First the computer model assumes that everyone will queue up equally behind each other in each line when stopped at the traffic light. I'm sorry, but that doesn't happen in real life. I can't tell you how many times I've seen 15 cars stopped at a light in the left lane and nobody is in the right lane, or vice-versa. Also, the trucks get up to speed way too quick in the simulator. Roundabouts create other traffic situations, traffic lights create planned traffic breaks that allow people to be able to enter a busy road during rush hour, when a roundabout is installed some roads are impossible to enter between roundabouts especially with a left turn. I went to Canada this weekend and it reminded me how much people don't pay attention when driving, the customs booth is a perfect example. Drivers will queue up behind other drivers without looking at the arrows to which lane is open. I saw two lines with 5 cars each waiting to clear customs, and two completely open lanes with nobody in them. I go into one of the empty lanes and get to the customs agent, asked him how long it's been since he had someone come through, he said he was open for 15 minutes and I was the first person to use his lane. By the time he cleared my entry I had three cars behind me and the other open lane still didn't have a single car in it's line. I believe the lemming factor makes many of these traffic predictors inaccurate, you can't predict rubbernecking, accidents, etc., that lead to really screwed up rush hours. A hot blond walking her dog along a major road will do more to screw up traffic than the one driver that's driving a bit slower or a bit faster. I know how fast I have to drive to make the lights, speed limit be damned. If I'm the first car out of the light and nobody is in my way, I'll make every light without stopping, even if I have to do 10 over the speed limit or go 15 under. Well, that's in areas where the lights are timed, the sensor based lights - some run on a timer as well and others are internally timed based on the traffic. The best ones are the newest asynchronous lights that use radar to tell if a car is approaching and will change just before you reach it. -Ron I don’t believe this simulation is correct. First the computer model assumes that everyone will queue up equally behind each other in each line when stopped at the traffic light.

I’m sorry, but that doesn’t happen in real life. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen 15 cars stopped at a light in the left lane and nobody is in the right lane, or vice-versa.

Also, the trucks get up to speed way too quick in the simulator.

Roundabouts create other traffic situations, traffic lights create planned traffic breaks that allow people to be able to enter a busy road during rush hour, when a roundabout is installed some roads are impossible to enter between roundabouts especially with a left turn.

I went to Canada this weekend and it reminded me how much people don’t pay attention when driving, the customs booth is a perfect example. Drivers will queue up behind other drivers without looking at the arrows to which lane is open. I saw two lines with 5 cars each waiting to clear customs, and two completely open lanes with nobody in them. I go into one of the empty lanes and get to the customs agent, asked him how long it’s been since he had someone come through, he said he was open for 15 minutes and I was the first person to use his lane. By the time he cleared my entry I had three cars behind me and the other open lane still didn’t have a single car in it’s line.

I believe the lemming factor makes many of these traffic predictors inaccurate, you can’t predict rubbernecking, accidents, etc., that lead to really screwed up rush hours. A hot blond walking her dog along a major road will do more to screw up traffic than the one driver that’s driving a bit slower or a bit faster.

I know how fast I have to drive to make the lights, speed limit be damned. If I’m the first car out of the light and nobody is in my way, I’ll make every light without stopping, even if I have to do 10 over the speed limit or go 15 under. Well, that’s in areas where the lights are timed, the sensor based lights - some run on a timer as well and others are internally timed based on the traffic. The best ones are the newest asynchronous lights that use radar to tell if a car is approaching and will change just before you reach it.

-Ron

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