Traffic-onomics: Washington, DC congested traffic areas including K St NW
Posted: Monday, January 24, 2011
by James Banner
Do you sit in traffic by the second, minute, hour, daily, weekly, monthly or annually? If you do, then guess what? I do too. It is a never-ending situation when it comes to driving in the city, depending on where you reside or work or what places you visit. Traffic is ongoing; whether it’s a light or heavy commute, get ready to rumble with the cars on the road.
Aggressive drivers are the hardest to predict. You never when they’re going to do something stupid, like tail gating, cutting you off for no reason, and giving you the finger if you don’t drive faster than them. Have you experienced this? Please raise your hand and you will receive an imaginary get out of traffic free card. Wait for it, wait for it. It will come someday. I admit I may sometimes be in this category, but forgive me, I know you will. I’m only trying to get there quickly.
Then there are just those who chose to drive slowly for no reason. They have no care in the world for other drivers. They just stroll around doing 34 mph in a 55 mile highway or the infamous 15 mph in a 25 mph lane. It irks me sometimes. When going over bridges or looking at an accident, they make sure they see all the details. They scan the cars as if it’s their own. They look and stare. Look and stare. Look and stare. Then they go back to driving. The person behind them is cursing them out mentally if not physically.
The traffic lights account for the most time wasted during travel; however it provides a safety net for all drivers to streamline their routes. The traffic dies down around 10:00 -12:00 pm and 1:30-3:00 pm. If you’re going to the market during the work hours, I suggest you walk, catch the metro train, and a last resort taxi. If you live in the city, why bother with a car, just use the metro system.
So last but not least, answer this bonus question; on a three lane highway, if you have a car on your left and a car on your right and you want to get into another lane, but they won’t let you get in either lane, what would you do?
A. Speed up and pass on the left or right
B. Slow down and pass on the left or right
C. Wave your hand at them to speed up
D. Give them the finger if they don’t let you over
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)I live in a rural part of northern Fl. so I don't really drive in big city traffic unless I go into the big city.You have it made. We need to do home swap for a week or so. The traffic here is congested.
Ooh, traffic and trying to be patient... It's my worst. It's so hard to just slow down inside your head and let go when traffic is congested. And does this happen to you - when you're in a hurry all the slow drivers in the universe take to the roads just to thwart you!Yes, the sense of urgency to get to my destination decreases the value of time it takes for me to make it there. Point being is that whenever I'm in a hurry it seems that, like you said, folks just seem like they're driving slower than usual. I usually just go around them if possible, otherwise I'm stuck behind them.
Patience.... that's all we need these days in traffic.Yes, you're right, but for those who are always in a hurry - beware!
Lol! Try A, B, then C, and give them D. Lived in the city and dealt with it for 30 years. Finally moved to the country to get away from it, and will never go back. Moved 10 minutes away from work if I take my time, which I do. Threw away my blood pressure and anti-anxiety medication, and couldn't be happier. Thanks for the reminder.Lol... good rememdies ... all of them. I prefer to slow down and just let them too ride it out.
I've tried everything including the finger, cause in Indian traffic you need one more thing to remember, it's their mother. :-) They push you that far. Nice thoughts again.DMHehe. I am convinced. I am convinced! The finger is known for its popularity amound extenuating circumstances.
Interesting and informative, James. I have drivn in Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Birmingham and some others. But I no longer go there. I'm 80 years old and lucky to drive on a back road. Thanks for sharing this.Thanks Joel. You have driven to so many places. I want to travel more once the economy gets back on its feet. I love to drive. I should have been a truck driver. Maybe I was in another life, who knows.
It's so funny I'm reading this now in Reader's Club. Just today, my husband and I were driving in a busy three-lane section of the city when a man coming towards us made a left hand turn within a couple of feet of hitting us. My husband, shocked, laid on the horn. What happened? The wife of the other guy driving, gives us the finger. I couldn't believe it, especially because she looked like June Cleaver, I just wasn't expecting that. People are getting more and more aggressive on the roads, and it's not a good thing. Good article though! Oh and my answer would be A, I have a problem with slowing down.That's always an alarming situation when you see something from out of the blue and wham. About a week ago, picture this, I'm in the right lane of a four way traffic stop. I am waiting behind a car for it to turn right and just as the car is making its right turn, another vehicle was making a U-turn at the same time. Needless to say one of them slowed down not knowing what the other would do. It was a 85% chance that an accident was about to occur. I was shocked at the scene and waited for the two to figure it out just within seconds. The entire event took about 2 seconds. It was scary.I can imagine! It's very unnerving when you witness something like that. Sometimes the people involved don't even realize how close they came.Yelp, they take unecessary risks...which is dangerous. I try to give them right of way and just keep it moving, so I won't end up on the pavenment.
I haven't ever been very far east - always wanted to go to Maine in the fall when the leaves were turning - ocean, leaves and sea food looks like a winning combo but this traffic? Hope someone else would drive or maybe we could skip the urban areas...??? Thanks for the head's up!Hehe. The traffic is like playing chess - easy to play, but hard to figure out if you're just learning the ropes. Even then the best players fall off course. Keep playing it takes practice, but with traffic there really is no science, just traffic.My husband used to love to play chess - until he tried to get me to join him. I play games to relax....chess made me all tied in knots. I didn't find it relaxing to thing 5 moves ahead and seven different ways for each move.... we agreed to other games and I never did learn to enjoy chess.... I also dislike intensely major traffic. Especially now with people on cell phones and texting and just being totally crazy... Colorado Springs is bad enough - if I go East will let (beg) someone else to do the driving! Again, appreciate the head's up!Chess is more of a strategy game. It works the brain for the better - getting those not daily brain functions to working. Yes, unfortunately on the Northeast near DC I don't think traffic will ever be 'normal'.
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