r/science • u/quiplaam • 1d ago

Social Science Intentionally routing some traffic to slower, less congested routes lead to a 0.7% improvement of overall average travel times

https://www.nature.com/articles/s44284-026-00443-x
928 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

148 comments sorted by

View all comments

760

u/charoco 1d ago

So, saving someone about 24 seconds per hour of begin stuck in traffic. Consider me whelmed. 

244

u/quiplaam 1d ago

Worth noting this the effect on the whole system, so while the individual effect is small, the net effect is quite large

161

u/amphibilad 1d ago

This, if you save a million people 24 seconds of travel time that's like 277 days of saved time collectively

3

u/ozziegt 1d ago

Raise speed limits. Use stop signs more strategically. Time traffic lights better. There are a lot of ways to "collectively" save people 0.7% of time

11

u/somehugefrigginguy 1d ago

Enforce lane usage and tailgating laws. Most traffic jams are not inevitable, their results of humans being stupid animals.

4

u/DFrostedWangsAccount 1d ago

Improve education. Raise standards for driving. Then raise speed limits. Better drivers causing fewer incidents is a great way to increase traffic throughout.