I Don’t Understand Traffic…Do You?

Whenever my wife and I are driving on the Garden State Parkway (especially northbound) there is bound to be a moment where we comment on the traffic and our confusion.  For example we don’t understand why it seems no matter what time of day the traffic slows down when you approach exit 90 in Brick.  This is especially true anytime in the morning.  You can be cruising along doing 65-70 MPH and all of a sudden you see nothing but brake lights up ahead.  Then for a mile or so you crawl at a snail’s pace until all of a sudden you are back at full speed.  The traffic doesn’t see any heavier than it was before that area and nothing happened to suddenly cause the slowdown.  Sure some cars merged onto the parkway and there is a toll booth but not enough to cause the traffic to come to a halt for a brief period of time.  Those that travel the parkway with regularity know the same thing happens around Brick when heading south, especially in the late afternoon.

This same head-scratcher takes place in other areas of the roadway as you head north.  Moving along with no problem and suddenly it’s all brake lights ahead, you crawl for a mile or so and then it’s back to the speed limit or higher.

The main causes of traffic are said to be accidents, road construction, debris on the road and rush hour but there is something else that may help to explain my being so perplexed.  Phantom traffic jams are said to occur when a car slows down, either by braking or not keeping up with the traffic speed on a busy roadway like the parkway.  The braking also causes vehicles behind to slow down and the chain reaction can lead to tie-ups.  This could lead to a traffic jam for no apparent reason.

Whatever the reason try and drive safely…it’s a jungle out there.