Big Eye ... Everything About Nothing

Yes, yes, yes … this is probably the second thing they teach you in driving school. But then, how many of us were actually paying attention? Half the class was probably flirting with the other half. The only ones actually paying attention were the instructors, if they themselves weren’t half way up the skirts (or pants, or whatever) of their students.

Sounds harsh talking about driving school like that? Oh, really? Then how would you explain all the idiots on the roads who don’t even know how to merge into traffic properly? If these people were just slightly educated in how to operate their vehicles in a sociably accepted manner, then perhaps, just perhaps, we would have slightly less traffic jams.

So, for those of you who were not paying attention when somebody was trying to teach you the proper methods (and by the way, hope you got the girl / guy sitting next to you … really, you did have more than enough time), this is the simple rule of merging in traffic:

Take turns!

It really doesn’t matter who has the right of way, although it could be argued that those who cut queues should have a troublesome piece of their anatomy cut off … but perhaps it was an emergency and they HAD to rush. So, always give the benefit of doubt. But instead of the normal 10%, in rush hour traffic just boost that up to 50%. It might mean that you reach your destination later rather than sooner, but at the very least it will keep you sane.

Easy, huh? By taking turns cars don’t actually stop … well, that would be in a perfect world. In the world we live in, cars just move slower and that’s good enough.

If you have ever heard about the ripple effect in traffic, then you would know exactly what I’m talking about. But again, if you knew what the ripple effect in traffic is, then probably you were the only geek in driving school who was paying attention. Personally I learnt about it from the Discovery Channel!

But if you really want to know, the traffic ripple effect (wonder if there is anything such as the traffic nipple effect … when you constantly rub your nipple on the steering wheel coz you sit just too darn close to it) happens when one vehicle slows down causing the next to slow down causing the next to slow down, and so far and so forth. The effect radiates outwards from the original slowing in movement, much like a ripple in the water. End result is, cars somewhere along the line will stop moving, for a short while.

Getting cars to move from a standing position takes time, and this causes traffic jams. At least it contributes to a traffic jam in a huge way. Ever been at a traffic light and some slow-in-the-head drivers take forever to get their cars moving and you end up missing the light? You get the idea.

A classic example of the ripple effect on a highway is when one car suddenly brakes and causes the few cars behind it to slow down. The next few cars will slow down more. The next few cars after that would probably have to make complete stops. This may, of course, happen where roads merge and two stone-headed drivers don’t give way to each other by taking turns and at the very last minute jam their brakes in an attempt not to crash into each other.

That’s why in some cases you have a clear road and suddenly all cars seem to freeze and the next thing you know, the road is clear again. No sign of anyone stopping or an accident. Miss the ripple and you would sail through.

Now you know how to merge in traffic without making the traffic any worse than it has to be. Hope you practice it and do try to help others understand this too. We already have enough traffic on the road as it is without having people make it worse.

Too self-conscious about your driving to chastise others for their driving skills? Sending them this article might help … Hint! Hint!