Increasing the efficiency of a process also tends to paradoxically increase its utilization (Jevon&#x27;s Paradox).  So it&#x27;s entirely possible that automated trucking will actually increase total traffic volume.<p>Still though, even a few vehicles &quot;eating traffic waves&quot; can break up a traffic jam.  I&#x27;ve heard the number put at 3-5% of traffic being self-driving would prevent phantom traffic jams.<p>So overall I would say that self-driving cars could help reduce phantom traffic jams, but they may actually increase <i>real</i> traffic jams caused by overcapacity.