In my last blog post (trafficjam), I wrote about how a traffic jam occurs and how to prevent it. Today, I want to elaborate more on how to avoid a traffic jam in the first place.

How can we prevent the emergence of a traffic jam?

Driving a car, we all know the so-called “zipper method”, to avoid abrupt braking, and the system of traffic flow sensors. Nowadays, there are more modern systems, helping us in our everyday life.

Floating Car Data (FCD) / Floating Phone Data (FPD)

The live services utilize two different ways in collecting floating car data. Companies like Google, Garmin and Navteq, use GPS data. Smartphones, as a location-based service, send messages, while using satellite positioning GPS coordinates.

The available providers use the position data of all users that utilize the mapping software on their smartphones. They match this information with locations of mobile phones, which are currently on the phone. In that case, phones are not tracked via GPS, and rather through the radio cell stations to which they are currently logged in. Data protection associations are questioning the data security and processes of providers, considering that they store all data for a minimum of two years. However, there is no official explicit period to delete the anonymous data.

Andreas Erwig from TomTom points out that TomTom offers smart system, preventing the daily obstruction of the traffic arteries:

If 12% of all vehicles on the road are equipped with a modern navigation system – and the drivers follow TomTom’s suggestions, - according to the result of a simulation, the traffic would allegedly distribute optimally.

An analysis of the current traffic congestion problem is: There are not enough navigation devices. Another Problem might be: There are too many cars Also, avoiding traffic jams require high-quality paved roads. How to build a high-quality road? This includes paying attention to the following: Asphalt temperature, asphalt quality, levelingsystem, temperature monitoring, compactionsystem for a roller, etc.

With high-quality roads, there are fewer construction sites necessary. The result is less traffic jams. Need more details on quality paving systems?

Interesting enough, the permanent road marking tape A380 by company 3M, is represented in the market since 1991 and marked thousands of road kilometers. This permanent marking tape consists of ceramic beads and skid resistant particles, with a hard Polyurethane top coat. Tests and comparative measurements show that the tapes hold up to eight years in reliable service! Traditional liquid markings generally have to be renewed every 3 to 4 years à which leads to more construction sites.

3M developed a marking film that is applied to the asphalt with an automatic tape applicator. Watch the video here:

Do you have any experience with an situation like this?!