An accident, construction or someone simply pulled over on the side of the road can all cause traffic congestion, especially during rush hour as commuters try to get home. However, there isn’t always a clear cut reason for a backed up highway, and sometimes there seems to be no reason at all. This phenomenon is known as a phantom traffic jam, and its an urban mystery that plagues most of the nation.
The Zebra dove into this issue and created an infographic that explains the science behind phantom traffic jams, what causes them and how drivers can help alleviate this problem.
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