I was stuck in a traffic jam
.....again!!!
20
minutes in traffic? One hour in a traffic? Half a day in a traffic?
Annoying journey to school, work and from school or work? Constant
traffic jams and clogged crossroads ... in a big city that situation
is the norm during rush hours. Congested
urban streets it's not happy and very frustrating everyday life for
many of their inhabitants. Some metropolitan
areas cope better with this problem, some worse. What causes traffic
jams? What is their impact on our health? Prevent them or learn to
live with it? I'll try to answer these few questions.
The
causes of traffic jams
and a small amount of new roads(
especially in Poland)- is the main reason. There are also quite
immediate the causes of traffic jams, such as stenosis, repair of
roads, accidents, etc..
According to researchers, there are
three theories about the causes of the formation of traffic jams.
First, the main theory is called "butterfly
effect"- very little car
traffic disruptions entail more serious, and this sequence of events
leads to the creation of a traffic jam.
Another theory of the "unseen
waves" says that, when a car
in front does something unusual, drivers often respond by hitting the
brakes. That in turn makes the next driver brake. Soon, a wave of
commuters are flashing red brake lights.
''The
tragedy of the common pasture"- this
is third theory, which has
roots in the economy. Access
to roads are free and unlimited, but with limited capacity. Some
drivers, when use the roads, think only about self-interest and
then we all suffer as a whole.
Certainly, much depends on the drivers, some behave too
aggressively on the road, while others are too timid. The
unpredictability of human behavior leads to traffic jams.
Negative
impacts
Normally, we do not think about what the consequences to
our health and well-being could be stuck in traffic everyday. Experts
and doctors warn that the consequences could be serious.
Stucking
in traffic jams could be harmful. Increasing blood pressure and
heart rate speeds up, which is not associated with a healthy
exercise. Prolonged immobilization results in deterioration of
ventilation. Added to this also harmful external influences: an
increase in gas concentration and the increasing level of noise and
vibrations.
Different
negative impacts:
-wasting
time of motorists and passenger-as a non-productive activity for most
people, congestion reduces regional economic health,
-delays, which may result in
late arrival for work, meetings, and education,
-wasted fuel increasing air
pollution and carbon dioxide emissions,
-Stressed and frustrated
motorists
-blocked traffic may
interfere with the passage of emergency vehicles traveling to their
destinations where they are urgently needed.
What causes a traffic jam???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Suugn-p5C1M&feature=player_embedded
The
longest traffic jams in history
1)Beijing,
China
On
the Beijing-Tibet Expressways just outside of Beijing, drivers were
trapped in a 100 km long traffic jam that lasted over 12 days in
August of 2010. This
traffic jam was caused by a flood of cargo-bearing heavy trucks and
compounded by road work.
2)
Lyon to Paris, France
According to Guinness World of Records, the longest
traffic jam reported in history was 176 km long, spanning from Lyon
to Paris on February 16, 1980. The jam occurred on the French
Autoroute as a result of highway congestion and poor weather.
3)North
of Houston, USA
Traffic congestion of automobiles caused of people
fleeing from Houston (Texas) because of Hurricane Rita in 2005.
Evacuees used Interstate 45which was an official evacuation route.
More than 2.5 million people was trying to evacuate Houston, traffic
jams extended up to 160 kilometres long.
4)Sao
Paulo, Brazil
In June 2009, Sao Paulo set a new record for bad
traffic, 295km of traffic jam accumulated throughout the entire city,
meaning over 35% of the city's roads. No matter the day of the week
or the time of the day, the city faces severe congestion. Typically,
the length of a traffic jam spans to 193 km long at peak hours with
drivers spending up to three-to-four hours behind the wheel in
traffic each day!!!
Preventing
traffic jams
Studies
conducted on the occasion of the campaign "Live without traffic"
have shown that driving to work and back home, people fromWarsaw lose
an average of 1 hour and 44 minutes a day. It isn't a little,
especially this time could be used for many other useful activities.
Driving
to work by car, people in Warsaw spend in a car over 415 hours per
year , or until 17 days a year !!!
How
can we fight with traffic congestion, what to do to reduce their
number? Prevention of traffic jams is manifested primarily through
the development of public transport, walking and cycling. Many
Western cities implemented special lanes for buses ( Berlin, Warsaw,
too:) ). In some cities ( London or Berlin) introduced fees for
entry to the center and the "green zone". The easiest way
may appear to be expanding current and building new streets. But this
isn't always possible. Construction of bypasses is also a good
solution, but this involves high costs.
However,
there is a good alternative to the car - bike. In
the spring and summer and during the warm days of autumn people
should use this means of transport. In addition to walking around
town, it's the most effective and cheapest way to get to the center
and it's very healthy, too.
Certainly,
traffic jams aren't fun and have a negative impact on our mood,
regardless of whether you are a driver or passenger. Driving skills,
driving culture, modern navigation systems can help in solving this
problem. What can you do during a traffic jam?When
you travel by bus and you're stuck in traffic, you can read a book,
learn or listen to your favorite music. And of course people
should practice patience. Patience is a skill. Much like playing
piano or learning English. You have to practice if you ever want to
get good at it. This skill is very important for our mental health.
Do you often get stuck in traffic jams? Do you know
other ways to deal with congested roads? Do you think that people in
Warsaw will have huge problems with access to school, work during the
EURO 2012?
Sources:
http://www.trans.info/message/view/11520.html
I never thought that there are theories about the formation of traffic jam ;) In Warsaw it also happens, but certainly local traffic jams are not so long like those from Guiness Book of Records. Once I was coming back from English classes over an hour, when normally I am going half an hour. It was terrible! I agree that the traffic jam causes delays, wasting of time, our nervousness and stress. So I hope that there is a way to prevent them.
ReplyDeleteOne hour in traffic jam? Gosia, try to imagine my last journey to Prudnik... almost 10 hours in car with no air condition, in horrible heat and with sore spine ;/ Everything because off building our roads before Euro2012. It was great experience to follow a roadroller for about 30 kilometers!
DeleteIn Warsaw I stuck in traffic jams if I need to be earlier. If only I have to be on time, there is always such problem. Especially before lectures with mgr K. (PMP ;d).
In Warsaw, traffic jams are always, especially in the morning when everybody try to go to work.. We waste our time for it but it's just one thing what we could do - predict it and get with us from home for example good book;) Btw. I never heard about so many theories about traffic jam;p
ReplyDeleteI dont stuck in traffic jams in Warsaw as a driver but as a passenger quite often. It is very annoying!! Especially when i am in a hurry because I am going to my classes. In the future I wont use car to go to work, I will go by bus.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how the transport will look like during Euro 2012. I hope it wont have any influence upon going to school or to work. Recently whene there was some match on the National stadium and I couldnt got home...
I became nervous when I got stuck in traffic for an hour but stand in a traffic for 12 days like in China, it had to be terrible!!! In Warsaw traffic jams are in the morning and afternoon when everyone returns from work. We waste our time in traffic jams, we should find some alternative transportation which reduces traffic congestion in the city, it could be underground, tram and in the summer we can arrive on bike.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I prefer trams than buses. Maybe they are slower, but not get stuck in traffic jams. And I think that yes, we will have a huge problems with traffics during euro. A lot of tourists, a lot of students, a lot of people everywhere. And closed Marszałkowska street. Hooror
ReplyDeleteLike I said in my previous comment in a traffic jam people can do a lot of different things. Women can correct their make-up or gossip about handsome men. Men can shout and honk at others.
ReplyDeleteOh my God! the pictures are really terrifying! I think that in Poland traffic jam are not so scaring. First of all, I didn't know that there are theories about formating traffic jam. Secondly, I hate traffic jams because it's waste of time. It also can bring about bad consequences for our health.
ReplyDeleteWell, from very scientific view, traffic jams can be created by any driver who makes something unusual on the street. You can read about the Japanese scientists' project: http://www.motiontown-go.com/japonski-eksperyment/
ReplyDeleteThey concluded that one driver can cause a big traffic jam on the street.
On the other hand, I can't simply believe that Warsaw's city council can't do anything to avoid traffic jams on Prymasa Tysiaclecia street. Everyday when I travel that street to the school I have to waste my time for staying in the traffic jams... That can be annoying.
Traffic jams are terrible. Especially if you have a long way and in addition we are in an endless traffic jam.
ReplyDeleteMy dad has a map on which are marked larger roads in the country where the most traffic jams occur and not once happened that through it we managed to avoid them or at the right time to change the route.
I think everybody hates traffic jams, because we can't predict how many times we need to get to the university or work.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I really don't stuck in traffic jam very often, because I travel by train.
What about Euro 2012?
I hope that Warsaw government can manage with great challenge of organization EURO 2012. I saw many posters with instructions "how we can travel in Warsaw during the EURO 2012". So I am sure that we can better or worse manage with it.
A completely different perspective on traffic jams than in the previous presentation. It's very interesting. I get angry, when I stuck in a traffic jam, but I know that in Russia or China situation is much worse than in Poland. I think the best alternative for cars and buses is subway or bicycle / motorbike / scooter. Unfortunately, in Poland we have only one line of the underground and under-developed bicycle paths. As for Euro 2012, now are the problems of getting around Warsaw ...
ReplyDeleteI don't have a driving licence, but I hate traffic james as a passenger. Traffic jams are very often in big cities. Is such as big cities we have a choice because usually public transport is developed very good, so we can avoid traffic.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a driving licence, but I hate traffic james as a passenger. Traffic jams are very often in big cities. Is such as big cities we have a choice because usually public transport is developed very good, so we can avoid traffic.
ReplyDeleteIt is small quantum of solace that not only people in Poland suffer from traffic jams and in other countries are even worse situation. In relation to theories which explain jams i would add one. Stupidity and indolence of officials also could reson. I think this situation concerns especially to Poland and in future when amount of cars is still increasing problem will be bigger and bigger.
ReplyDeleteTraffic jams are a regular affair. People who are moving on the roads should be used to it. Drivers should not be nervous, but everything calmly wait. Therefore driver - calm down and go slow!
ReplyDeleteI don't imagine being stuck in a traffic jam for 12 days... A horror! I don't have my own car so I don't have many problems with traffic jams. Sometimes it happens to me when I'm in the bus, but not very often because during rush hours I usually try to move by underground or trams. I think that during EURO 2012 people will have many problems with moving around the city. Especially in the surroundings of stadiums, where will be a lot of people, some streets will be closed. I'm happy that my city is not responsible for EURO and for sure in these days I will be in Warsaw as rarely as possible.
ReplyDeleteI have a driving licence so I hate traffic james! I come from Łowicz - it is a small town, where we can meet traffic james very rarely. However I live in Warsaw today and I must travel to school every day. It was horrible when I was trawelind by bus and I must stuck in a traffic jam a lot of time. Atfer I decided travel by metro, so I am avoid this kind of situations.
ReplyDeleteI am wondering, why governments are unable to predict where traffics will occur and why they don't fight off. Is it really so hard, to just look at the city's map and count how many lanes goes to the centre of the city and how many is needed? And how we should modify public transport, to make it more effective?
ReplyDeleteI know, that building net roads is expensive, but we pay taxes in order to solve problems like this.
Again, I don't have a driving licence so i don't drive a car and I can't say nothing about that. But still I find this post very interesting even if it was very long and I'm pretty tired but I have to admit I enjoyed reading it:)
ReplyDeleteI have a driving licence, so I was many times in traffic jam;p I usually listen to music or look what do other people. Sometimes it is funy;)
ReplyDeleteEURO 2012 in Warsaw will be awful for driver. Police is planning a few main street when match will be taken part.
Plugs are the bane of modern cities. The number of cars that run on the streets is appalling. Car is no longer a luxury, affordable for the large proportion of the population. This generates traffic jams. As seen in the U.S. the number of roads does not help. In my opinion, the only alternative to traffic congestion in the city is by public transport. Tram, bus and metro the best discharge plugs. This can be seen in European cities that have set on them. This speeds up the transport and is good for nature.
ReplyDeleteI have a driving licence but I don't use car because I don't want waste time in traffic jam. In my opinion public transport in Warsaw is very well develop so in my opinion more drivers should stop traveling by car. Greatly reduced by the traffic jams in Warsaw. Euro 2012 in Poland will terrible time for driver so i think that worth buying a bike at the this time. ;)
ReplyDeleteVery often I travel by car in Warsaw. I have to move between north and south part of the city. We travel often in a rush hours.
ReplyDeleteGeneraly in a rush hours there are traffic jams in the streets and I am almost sure that during EURO 2012 there will be terible traffic in whole city. In my opinion the best solution will be for us to take a lot of CD music. I love listening to the music while we are travelling.
I need to admit, when I'm searching for a flat, my first motivation is distance to University or Work. I became nervous when I got stuck in traffic for an hour but stand in a traffic for 12 days like in China? WHAT!!! I'm out of my mind.
ReplyDeleteIn Warsaw traffic jams are in the morning and afternoon when everyone move to/from work. I alwayes making something during those traffics. I prefer to read some notes for classes. What can we do to reduce intensity of traffic jams? We should invest in underground, or just choose public transport when we can. Why not bike during a summer?