IF ONLY everyone drove considerately, there'd be fewer traffic
jams and we'd all get to our destination more quickly, according
to a new model of traffic flow. The ideal way to keep cars
moving when roads get busy is for all the cars to move together
at a similar speed. By including "thoughtful" drivers in their
model, researchers have managed to recreate this elusive
"synchronised flow". Traffic can be in one of three states: free
flowing, synchronised or jammed. Synchronised flow is often
observed on busy motorways, but until now no one knew how cars
synchronise ( "A thoughtful driver tries to avoid accelerating
or braking suddenly and will not jump into gaps between cars,"
Knospe says. "On ... To continue reading this article, subscribe
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