There are easily recognizable reasons for traffic jams. They may be caused by a roadworks or an accident, another reason are the gawkers, who seem to get a morbid satisfaction out of staring at an accident scene. Quite often however, the traffic runs smoothly after a jam without there being any apparent reason for the jam. Perhaps it was simply caused by high traffic density and one road-user, who for some reason or other, put his/her brakes on or simply reduced his/her speed distinctly.

Looking from above, one could probably recognize the reason clearly. When someone up front brakes abrubtly, the following cars must always brake even more abruptly. Until everything comes to a standstill. Now, have a closer look at how people drive off when the traffic lights change. Traffic researchers speak of the (in)famous two seconds, which on an average, everyone takes, before moving off after the car ahead has started.

Thus, when the stationary traffic moves off slower than the traffic coming up from behind, the jam gets bigger. It would be an advantage if the front cars would move off relatively quickly. Indeed, these are the people who have just got over the growing traffic jam.

Let's assume that the light phases are so short, that one has to stop and wait several times before they change. Do you have the feeling, that those who have finally made it across, move off relatively quickly, e.g., into the main road because they know that behind them, there are plenty of cars waiting to get across? This not the impression that I get.

Humans are simply not like ants. They do not behave co-operatively. This is partly due to the fact, that the one who can assert him-/herself, belongs to a successful minority, e.g., those who drive off on holiday during the day, because many others choose the night, because they want to avoid the tailbacks on the first day of the holidays. If the human being wasn't always an individualist, on the road he/she becomes one.

It would however appear, that there are a great number of individualists on the road. Indeed, this overwhelming majority is doing something wrong. They too often leave the motorway to avoid an actual or even an announced traffic jam. It is estimated, that the group of drivers who always stay on the motorways and are generally through the jam quicker, at only 1 to 2 percent. Of course the group must remain so small, otherwise their chances of coming out on top decrease.

The navigation devices also seem to accentuate the stress, they are obviously programmed thus, that in the case of a tailback, they additionally, have to prove their right to exist. They then hurry hordes of motorists around the smallest side-roads, which also doesn't make the traffic-flow any better. Perhaps it would be wiser, now and then, to ignore the directives made by the device.

So, having local knowledge remains an advantage. If e.g., you know that in a short distance there is an interchange, where you have to turn off to the right, it may make sense, in the case of a tailback, to somewhat shorten the distance by using country roads. This may even be worthwhile, in spite of the fact that you have to travel more slowly.

Try to avoid having thoughts like 'the other lane is always faster'. I myself have a quirk, I honestly believe that the 'sunday driver' is always in front of me. Oddly enough, I can always find enough examples to underline that. They enter the lane in front of me and suddenly, we both lose contact to the vehicle in front, even though it may be only a very slow moving truck.

I tell myself over and over again: This is all psychological. The brain remembers the cases, where one has been very excited much better. It really gets bad, when the person sitting next to you gives you the good advice, please, not to get so excited. That's the point where one really goes through the roof and the thought about road safety is, hopefully only for a moment, the last thing on one's mind.

Added to this, I have the fateful belief, that one's character is shown by the way he or she drives a car. I know, that this is bordering on Kitchen Psychology, unfortunately there are always enough examples, e.g., in one's circle of friends, to give these possible and impossible theories a basis. Naturally, in all the activities occurring, where one is not a hundred percent in control, a little bit of ego comes through as well.

Finally, just one more word of advice: Should you ever get to the point, e.g., where you would dearly love to get to your appointment on time, and by changing lanes, force other road users to brake, try to imagine that there are two people above you in a helicopter, who, in view of the tailback in front of you, are being amused by your actions. This has a lot of similarity with the snail climbing up a wall, during the day it manages to climb up two meters, only to slide back down one meter during the night. The only real difference is, that relatively seen, the snail is very much more successful than you are. 08/13