Traffic Jams
Driving to work. Driving to school. Driving to the doctor's office. Driving to the grandparents' house. Driving to the game. Driving to the party. Driving is a part of everybody's life not only throughout the country but also throughout the world. It is an inevitable activity that occurs every day, all day long. Driving has become so engrained in the lives of Americans that traffic congestion has become a bigger and bigger problem each year. The most traveled holidays via driving are Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Christmas. There is no way of getting around it; driving is an important part of people's lives.
Congestion is defined as slow speeds and longer trip times due to the increased use of motor vehicles on the roadways. A traffic jam is when vehicles are at a dead stop on the roadway due to high volumes of congestion and aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Traffic congestion has grown from the introduction of the motor vehicle to the present in massive amounts.
A recent study on traffic congestion done by the United States government explained that there are seven main reasons for traffic jam. They are, in order, bottlenecks, traffic incidents, bad weather, work zones, poor signal timing and special events (concerts, sports, conventions, etc.). Not included in this study as a cause of traffic jams was the sheer volume of vehicles on the roads today. Traffic jams can be caused by an accident, whether minor or serious, or by a heavily braking vehicle. So, jams can be started from one end of the spectrum or the other.
Sitting in traffic is one of the most boring, mentally draining moments of a person's life. It not only tires people out but it also wastes their time. Traffic jams result in wasted gas, being late for class or an important business meeting, adding more pollution to the ozone and blocked traffic also causes emergency vehicles to have trouble maneuvering to where they need to be.
Many cities and states encourage the use of public transit or carpooling to and from work or school instead of everyone driving by themselves; which places more vehicles on the roadways. Public transit includes subways, buses and trolleys. Most public service announcements from states and cities also encourages physical activity for its residents by encouraging them to ride their bicycles to work instead of driving.
There is no definitive answer as how to diminish traffic congestion or traffic jams altogether but there are certain methods in use now that help to alleviate some problems. They are traffic reporting on television and radio stations every handful of minutes, electronic message signs installed along major roadways detailing delays and/or accidents in the area along with road closures and alternatives, in-car navigation systems and patrol vehicles from each state's Department of Transportation monitoring traffic flow.
The most congested areas of the United States per a countrywide study in 2005 were Los Angeles, California; New York, New York; and Chicago, Illinois.
Related Tags: car shipping, auto transport, boat transport, vehicle transportation
College Student Car TransportAuto Transport for College Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Improve the Value of Your Truck With a Truck Bed Cover
If you are a truck owner and are looking for a way to increase the value and also protect your inves - An Overview of Emergency Road Services
Anyone that owns a vehicle definitely understands that there are truly countless facets of driving a - Buying From Car and Truck Auctions in Canada
Buying a vehicle from an auction can be a good way to pick up a bargain as long as you know what you - 2011 Green Car Of The Year- Who's In It To Win It!
The Green Car of the Year award is a program designed by Green Car Jouranl to recognize and honor ve - Honda's 2010 Odyssey is Efficient, Practical and Convenient
If you are looking for a minivan that has a seating capacity of up to eight persons and handles almo - Greener Trucks For Delivery Work
Green' is a word you'll hear a lot when it comes to transportation, from bicycles to buses - but you - The Courier and Haute Couture
Some jobs just ooze opportunity to flaunt yourself and show off your latest togs but sadly that's ra - All-New 2011 Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry has been a continuous leader for years in the family midsize sedan class by being a - The Various Benefits Of Summer Tires
As you probably know , different tires are optimized for different conditions. Not only that, someth - A Couple of Tips on Buying a Used Cars in Toronto
If your old car has finally kicked the bucket and you need to get yourself a new mode of transport t
Most viewed articles in this category:
- How to Remove Window Tint
Applying tinting film to car or household windows may be fun, but removing it can be tricky if yo - Transporting Your Car
If you are relocating to another state or another country for employment or family reasons, you may - Choosing The Right Sticker For The Motorcycle Helmet
When people decide to buy a motorcycle, the dealer will usually throw in a helmet. This is because s - Suzuki's 2007 Xl7, “wave” Grand Vitara Debuts at the 2007 Scias
In the news: American Suzuki Motor Corporation has presented its array of cars and SUVs at the 2007 - Nissan Skyline GTR: A Racer That Is Affordable
If you've ever eyed a Porsche 911 or a Ferrari Testarossa, but thought the price was too steep, the - How To Buy Cheap Cars
There are a number of seized car auctions held in various places every month or at least quarterly. - Federal Agencies Expands Hybrid Fleet
Three federal agencies in Kansas recently added hybrid vehicles to their fleet. The hybrid vehicles - New Cars, New Gadgets Presented at the 2007 Naias
The 2007 North American International Auto Show has become an event of glamour, fashion and technolo - Aura Green Line Added to 3 Federal Fleets in Kansas
Three Kansas City area federal agencies added Monday the new 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid vehi - Top Vehicles by Autoweek Editors Honored at 2007 Naias
Everybody has favorites. Bill may like Ford cars. Susan may be attracted much by the power of pi