According to New Scientist, a team of Japanese researchers has recreated the phenomenon of the "shockwave" traffic jam on a test track for the first time.
This type of traffic jam appears out of nowhere in free-flowing traffic, typically caused by a single driver slowing down.
This action causes the cars immediately behind to slow down, sending a bunched group of cars - resembling a shockwave - progressively farther back within the traffic flow.
The phenomenon has been seen in numerous computer simulations, but was never successfully simulated until researchers from several Japanese universities tried it using 22 cars on a 230-meter (approximately 1/7 mile) circular track.
Video footage is available by clicking the story link.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
New Scientist: Shockwave traffic jam recreated for first time
