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All over the world, gridlock, stop and go driving and constant and sometimes dangerous lane changes are a daily frustration for highway motorists. However, new research by Dr Xiaobo Qu from Griffith University in Queensland ( http://www.griffith.edu.au ), Australia, in collaboration with Dr Shuaian Wang from Old Dominion University, USA, may provide the means to improving traffic safety, capacity and efficiency between cities.
Dr Qu and Dr Wang have used the M1 Motorway between Queensland's two biggest cities—Gold Coast and Brisbane—as the basis for computer modelling assessing the viability of a Long Distance Commuter lane (LDC).
"Because so many people live on the Gold Coast and work in Brisbane, a large proportion of M1 commuters travel during morning and evening peaks," says Dr Qu. "At these times, each lane of the M1 carries up to 2300 vehicles every hour and bottlenecks are common. "However, this modelling demonstrates that a dedicated LDC lane, with not only maximum but also minimum speed limits, could accommodate much higher traffic volume - up to 3000 vehicles per hour—by eliminating or at least minimising disturbances currently caused by lane changing, low speed vehicles and use of on-ramps and off-ramps.
[Abstract]:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mice.12102/abstract
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191261515000041
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday March 07 2015, @11:11AM
I often ride the bus over the Columbia River between Portland and Vancouver on I-5. It is uncommon that that bus is filled to capacity; at the same time rush hour starts at two in the afternoon. I see all those frustrated, tired automobile drivers, just one per car, just wanting to get home. Considering the cost of parking in Portland, it's much cheaper to take the bus. Why do so many choose to drive cars?
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 07 2015, @06:03PM
How about outsourcing more jobs to China while you're at it?
That should help with the traffic.
(Score: 1) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 07 2015, @11:32PM
Why do so many choose to drive cars?
Sure I can take the bus to work. If I didnt mind it taking oh about 2 hours to get to work and going 30 miles out of the way.
OR I can take my car and be at work in under 15 mins and swing by the store on the way home to grab the food for tonight.
Thats why.