Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!decvax!harpo!floyd!whuxlb!egb From: egb@whuxlb.UUCP Newsgroups: net.physics Subject: Re: physical laws of freeway traffic? - (nf) Message-ID: <1192@whuxlb.UUCP> Date: Fri, 24-Jun-83 13:53:35 EDT Article-I.D.: whuxlb.1192 Posted: Fri Jun 24 13:53:35 1983 Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jun-83 01:43:08 EDT Lines: 24 #R:ihnss:-156100:whuxlb:6500008:000:898 whuxlb!egb Jun 24 13:53:00 1983 I dislike the speed up/slow down thing on freeways also. Several weeks back during a two hour trip on the NJ Turnpike, I ran into several of the "local moving congestions". After poking along at about 50 mph for a while, I finally arrived at the problem. In each case, someone was driving their car in the middle (of three) lanes at a speed considerably less than everyone around. Hence, everyone slowed and passed the .*&^%!~? person at a speed of about 5 mph more than this turkey was driving. After passing everyone speeded up to 65 mph again. The lines of cars in all three lines behind the turkey extended for about 1/2 mile in all cases. I guess, by the time some people get to the turkey, the turkey has turned off on an exit. In that case the reason is never seen. Incidentally, this also happens when the car in question has a bubble gum machine on its roof. Ed Bradford harpo!egb