i think traffic is caused from people doing the opposite of tailgating, when people slow down to give space in front of them and the car in front, slowing everyone behind them down, then other cars merge in slowing everyone down more, then the flow decreases so there are more cars per mile so it slows even more, it's a positive feedback loop and i hate it
^ Uh, tailgating is the problem. Or at least braking. In the video, everything is flowing fine until one guy gets too close and brakes. Its been shown that allowing a large space in front can smooth traffic out. If someone merges in, there should be enough room to allow it without having to brake. If traffic is moving between 0-30mph, and you crawl at 15mph, allowing enough space to never have to brake, eventually the start/stop pattern works itself out and traffic overall speeds up. Granted by then, you are long past the problem area, so it doesn't do you much good. Of course that is mostly theoretical, since it would require most drivers to be operating in a like-minded fashion for the greater good. (un-American!)
Austin has hit the nail on the head. There was an article in the paper when i lived in Chicago... talk about traffic jams for no reason. When the car in front of them slows just a fraction the tailgator must slam on their breaks as reaction times vary from person to person who ever is behind them has to hit the breaks a bit harder then the person in front of them... this then traverses to the back of the cars until your slamming your breaks to the floor to stop in time and end up at a full stop
