clueless driver spotted

I don't find that to be true at all. In fact, I've given up 1-2 MPG on trip commutes to just set cruise control at 61 MPH, and I can leave it that way for 30-40 miles. Mayhap, I just don't come across that much traffic. Mayhap, it's just that folks in NC are more tolerant (as another posted suggested several weeks back). Heck, even if I set the cruise at 65, I still don't have to decelerate more than twice in a trip (which, I find sad... ).

 

There are several stop-and-crawl sections in this snapshot, but it isn't obvious which portions are free flowing and which are not without switching to Speed or Congestion displays.

This snapshot is of a mid-October afternoon, a little past 4 pm. It is not the same Congestion display that users of this page normally see.

 

Ah, and so it appears that I may actually be valid in my assumptions? It looks like the prevalent color in that chart is red, meaning 1500 v/hr. That simulator I linked still shows free flowing traffic at that number as well. There's only a few spots that hit 2000 v/hr (very small amount that I can see) with some slower spots being much more prevalent than the higher 2000 v/hr number. Am I reading that correctly?

 

Here's a picture from today's commute. As you can see my lane (HOV) was going about 75 and the others were probably going about 60-65. This type of pattern went for at least 10 miles. If all of us decided to keep 3 seconds of space where would all the displaced cars go? 3 seconds is definitely safer, and also less stressful, but it doesn't scale when roads are at or near capacity.

 

Compactors perhaps. Or weren't you asking for suggestions?



Tom

 

I'd guess that a lot of drivers move from the right to middle lanes in that area, due to the on-ramp that is on an incline (does that off-ramp also back up? Lots of rubber on the road...). From only the picture, it's possible that several cars recently moved to the middle lane and that combined with the incline (where a certain % of drivers do not maintain speed), things got bunched things up. I wouldn't switch to the left lane in that situation since you're then hit with the incline so you need to apply even more power to overtake (which of course is what you should always be doing if you're in the left lane), and we can't see back and to the left.. maybe a vehicle is approaching.

But presumably you saw the whole scenario unfold, so I'd reckon your assessment is more accurate.

 

That prevalent display of 1500 vphpl is well above the 1200 you were suggesting as a realistic limit. And I guess I'm seeing an lot more 2000 vphpl sections than you are seeing.

And this is Seattle, where traffic spaces out much better than SoCal. I'd think their maps would display plenty of highway running at least 2500 vphpl.

After the 50 car pileups are cleared, of course.

 

May be the left lane is best for slow and near traveling cars and middle for heavy and fast going ones and right for no stop cars.
Looking like last cars are big in one staring line and up down of the road is good.

 

Good lord... stop taking pictures while you all are driving.... jeeeez talk about accidents waiting to happen