What are the problems caused by traffic congestion?

For many drivers, one of the biggest inconveniences of being on the road is traffic. Traffic congestion is a problem in many major cities across Canada, which can lead to frustration when driving. When you’re frustrated, you may be more likely to drive recklessly. Instead, it’s important for drivers to employ defensive driving, such as leaving lots of room on the road and obeying the speed limit at all times. Find out more about how traffic congestion works and how you can stay calm when driving in bad traffic.

What is poor traffic flow caused by?

There are several causes of traffic congestion. Depending on what city you live in, the causes will vary. Some cities will also experience numerous circumstances that compound traffic flow and lead to worse congestion. Below is a list of some of the most common causes of traffic congestion:

Car accidents

Car accidents happen all the time, and even one minor one can jam up traffic. Whether the accident blocks a lane of the highway or people simply slow down to stare at the incident, many common car accidents will slow down traffic for hours.

Construction work

Construction work is another common cause of traffic congestion. While construction is at its peak in the summertime, it can be a problem all year, especially if certain roads or lanes remain closed off during the winter. When there is construction, lanes may be reduced, or entire roads may be closed, causing drivers to take an alternate route. In addition, even if traffic is allowed to drive through the construction area, motorists are legally required to slow down, or else they could face a speeding ticket. All of this works to slow down traffic.

Weather

Inclement weather not only makes driving more dangerous, but it can also create traffic congestion. When the roads are slick, or visibility is reduced, drivers slow down to avoid getting into an accident. While this is a smart defensive driving habit to get into, it will inevitably slow down traffic. So, if you plan to drive in rain, snow, fog, or icy conditions, prepare for traffic to be slower and leave earlier to avoid being late.

Traffic saturation

Traffic saturation is a fancy term that simply means that the number of cars on a particular roadway exceeds the capacity of that roadway. This is a common problem, especially in older cities, where highways have been unable to keep up with the population expansion. The result is that roads quickly become oversaturated with traffic, especially during rush hour, which can cause major delays.

Distracted driving

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents, which means that it is also a leading cause of traffic congestion. Not paying attention to the road is not only dangerous for yourself and others around, but it can also disrupt traffic flow or cause accidents that can disrupt more traffic flow.

Phantom traffic jams

One last cause of traffic congestion is phantom traffic jams. These are traffic jams that seem to come out of nowhere. However, what causes a phantom traffic jam is when, during a period of dense traffic, cars start following behind one another too closely. Think of it like this: if the car in front of you starts to slow down, you will inevitably slow down, too. This causes a chain reaction in which the number of cars behind the first car starts to slow down. Eventually, one likely has to come to a complete stop. From there, the other cars behind it have to come to a complete stop, too. Before you know it, you are dealing with major traffic congestion.

Thankfully, there is a simple way to avoid phantom traffic jams, and that is by giving other drivers space on the road. Experts recommend leaving at least three seconds' worth of space. To determine this, choose a stationary item on the road, such as a sign or overpass. Begin counting when the car in front of you passed that stationary marker.

Continue counting until your vehicle passes the marker. If you are at the count of three or higher by the time you reach the marker, then you’ve left an appropriate amount of space. However, if your vehicle passes the marker before you’ve reached the count of three, then you are not travelling at a safe following distance.

Risks of traffic jams

Traffic jams aren’t only a nuisance, they can be dangerous. The more traffic on the road, the higher the odds of a car accident. Plus, when there are more vehicles travelling and when they are forced to travel for longer periods of time due to congestion, it can have an adverse effect on air pollution. Below, we outline a few of the top dangers of traffic jams:

Car accidents

The more cars that are on the road, the higher the odds of getting into a car accident. That said, when driving in heavy traffic, minor car accidents are more likely to happen, such as fender benders or rear-end collisions. This means that any damage done is likely to be less severe, both in terms of bodily injury and property damage.

Regardless, getting into a car accident is no joke. Not only can it have long-term repercussions on your health, but it can also lead to higher car insurance. If you recently got into an auto accident, reach out to BrokerLink to learn more about how you can save on car insurance in Canada.

Air pollution

Air pollution is another danger caused by traffic jams. Motor vehicles are some of the highest emitters of greenhouse gasses. The more time that cars spend on the road, the more emissions that are released into the atmosphere. This not only degrades the ozone layer but it also causes air pollution.

When chemicals and pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and more, make their way from your car’s exhaust pipe into the air, it will inevitably have an impact on humans and the environment. Air pollution can have harmful effects on human health, especially the lungs.

Climate change, which exhaust emissions have contributed to, has led to all sorts of problems around the world, including heat waves, flooding, droughts, and wildfires. These weather-related events have posed a threat to all sorts of people, including children, the elderly, and low-income communities across the world.

Road rage

Road rage is another dangerous consequence of traffic congestion. While it might not sound serious, the reality is that when people drive with road rage, their anger levels often lead them to engage in unsafe driving behaviour. This may include erratic driving, changing lanes without signalling, and speeding. All of these behaviours significantly increase the odds of a car accident - especially a sideswipe accident, which is extremely dangerous. If you find yourself growing angry or stressed on the road, do what you can to calm yourself down. Pull over if you have to. Otherwise, you could engage in reckless driving and face a traffic violation. Traffic violations impact premiums, so if you don’t want to pay more for car insurance, drive responsibly at all times.

Tips to prevent future traffic congestion

There are a few steps that both individual drivers and cities can take to prevent future traffic congestion. We break down a few possible solutions below:

Adding additional lanes to highways

Adding additional lanes to various roadways could help alleviate a lot of traffic congestion issues that busy urban areas face. Since one of the biggest problems is that the number of vehicles on the road exceeds the capacity of the road, creating a bottleneck effect, adding extra lanes or entire roads could help get rid of the problem.

Update traffic light management

Traffic lights play a major role in traffic congestion. By updating traffic light management systems, delays and traffic jams could be avoided or at least lessened. There are all kinds of advanced traffic light systems that contain sensors and GPS devices. In turn, this allows them to adapt to traffic conditions rather than only turn according to a pre-set schedule.

If more cities employed modern traffic light management systems, traffic flow could be better optimized. This would make for better traffic conditions while simultaneously reducing the amount of time cars spend idling. This would also help reduce the amount of air pollution on the road and help drivers save money on gas.

Introduce parking restrictions near major intersections

Introducing parking restrictions near major intersections is another way that cities might be able to alleviate traffic problems. The reality is that allowing cars to park near major intersections can reduce lanes, slowing down traffic. To avoid this problem, cities could restrict parking in these areas to certain hours of the day or days of the week or charge a higher rate to park there, which will deter some drivers from doing so.

Generally speaking, city planners should think strategically about where parking lots are built and where parking is allowed. Ideally, parking should never restrict the flow of traffic or negatively impact public transportation.

Take alternate routes

As a driver, one step you can take to alleviate traffic congestion is to take alternative routes. Do some research in advance using online mapping tools to find what other roads may be available to you. Believe it or not, there are likely multiple alternative routes that you can take instead of the most common one. By experimenting with backroads or other routes, you might be able to get where you’re going faster while also reducing traffic congestion in your neighbourhood.

Consider public transportation

Public transportation isn’t an option for all drivers, but if you live in a city with public transportation infrastructure, then consider swapping out your car for a bus or subway at least a couple of times per week. If enough people did this, traffic flow would not only be better, but you would likely save money and possibly even get where you’re going faster. Look into the various public transit options in your city to see how long the recommended route would take.

It is important to note that the onus isn’t just on drivers to take public transit. Cities also have the responsibility to make public transportation appealing and accessible. To alleviate traffic congestion issues, cities should prioritize the expansion of their public transportation networks. The easier and cheaper it is for residents to take public transit, the more popular it will be.

In conjunction with ramping up public transportation, cities also need to implement bus lines and come up with efficient routes that don’t interfere with existing traffic.

Carpool as often as possible

As a driver, another step you can take to make traffic better in your city is to carpool when possible. Carpooling not only reduces your carbon footprint but it will reduce the number of vehicles on the road. If more residents start to carpool, you could see a significant reduction in the overall amount of vehicle traffic in your city.

Consider asking neighbours, friends, or family members who live near you if they would be willing to carpool to school or work a few times a week. You could even ask your coworkers directly if any of them live near you. Carpooling could not only reduce the amount of time you spend commuting each day but will also allow you to save money on gas.

Plus, if you end up spending much less time behind the wheel, you might even qualify as an occasional driver. Occasional drivers can receive major car insurance discounts, which means even more money in your pocket. Learn more about occasional driver car insurance discounts and what mileage threshold you need to be under to qualify for one by contacting BrokerLink.

Please note that if carpooling isn’t your thing, you could also partake in ride-sharing, cycling, public transit, or walking instead of driving when possible.

Tips to stay calm when dealing with traffic congestion

It’s hard not to let bad traffic get to you, especially when you’re running late for work or want to get home and relax after a long day. However, remaining calm is key. Spending too much time angry or stressed each day will not only have a negative impact on your mental health but could also lead to developing poor driving habits. Below, we offer a few expert tips on how you can stay calm when dealing with traffic congestion:

Plan your route in advance

The first step to take is to plan your route in advance. Even if you don’t take an alternative route, taking a quick look at Google Maps will set your expectations, giving you an idea of how long the trip will take and if and when you will face traffic. If you have realistic traffic expectations going into the drive, you are likely to be less bothered by it than if you expect smooth sailing and discover standstill traffic partway through your drive.

In addition, by planning your route in advance, you will have the option of taking an alternate route if traffic is bad along your usual route.

Maintain a safe following distance

Our second tip for staying calm in bad traffic is to maintain a safe following distance. It can be tempting to follow the car in front of you closely, especially when driving in extremely slow traffic. However, doing so will increase the odds of needing to brake suddenly, which is not only stressful but also makes you more likely to get into a car accident. Employ the three-second rule mentioned previously and give the car in front of you plenty of space.

Listen to calming music

Next, did you know that calming music can soothe your body and your nervous system? Turn on the radio and find music that makes you feel at ease. If you frequently drive in bad traffic, you may even want to create a playlist of your favourite songs to turn on when driving.

Distract your mind

Our next tip is to distract your mind. Now, we’re not talking about engaging in any behaviour that will distract your attention from the road. Your eyes should always be on the road. However, if you find yourself growing angry or frustrated while driving in poor traffic, consider turning on the radio, calling a friend, or pressing play on a podcast or audiobook. Talking to someone else or listening to someone else talk can help take your mind off the bad traffic, keeping you calm.

Employ breathing techniques

Breathing techniques can also go a long way when it comes to calming down your body’s nervous system. Practice taking slow, deep breaths while driving. Repeat this series of deep breaths for at least five minutes. You could even try specific breathing techniques, such as the box technique, where you inhale, hold, exhale, and hold for 5 seconds.

Avoid distractions

The final tip to staying calm in poor traffic conditions is to avoid distractions. Distractions, such as texting and driving, eating, drinking, or smoking, can actually increase stress levels, causing you to focus more on the traffic congestion you’re facing. Plus, distracted driving could cause you to miss a stop sign or road hazard. You can find more information on right-of-way rules in Ontario and how to report a road hazard here.

Contact BrokerLink to learn more about how to combat traffic congestion

If you want to learn more about traffic congestion, including what it’s caused by, its dangers, and how to combat it, get in touch with BrokerLink today. One of our expert insurance advisors can offer all sorts of traffic congestion solutions.

We can also dive into other auto-related topics, such as whether self-driving cars are safe and what types of auto insurance are best for your needs.

Contact BrokerLink today if you want to request a free car insurance quote. The BrokerLink team offers free car insurance quotes to all customers with no strings attached. Request one today by giving us a call, visiting us in person, or using our online quote tool.

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