And I thought DC traffic was bad!

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Wed May 24, 2006 11:29 pm

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 8681325903

Not one accident!

Leland · Post by **Leland** » Thu May 25, 2006 12:29 am

That's been sped up a little bit...

But, if it weren't for them going on the other side of the street, I'd say that it looks like DC traffic on a good day! There were a LOT of people going through the camera's field of view, and only one or two minor hiccups that didn't affect more than a dozen vehicles (bicycles included). Compared to this, some stretches in downtown DC are just crap.

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Thu May 25, 2006 6:43 am

Leland wrote:That's been sped up a little bit...

But, if it weren't for them going on the other side of the street, I'd say that it looks like DC traffic on a good day! There were a LOT of people going through the camera's field of view, and only one or two minor hiccups that didn't affect more than a dozen vehicles (bicycles included). Compared to this, some stretches in downtown DC are just crap.

Aww, I see that now... the pedestrians are all moving a bit too fast eh?

Kinda takes some of the fun away.... Still a place that could use a traffic light!

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Thu May 25, 2006 8:43 am

Dean wrote: Kinda takes some of the fun away.... Still a place that could use a traffic light!

Let's hope Rick Denney doesn't read this post. From many conversations I have had with him in the past, I know he has a strong opinion about traffic lights.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu May 25, 2006 12:56 pm

Oh, there IS a traffic light at that intersection, but because everyone's driving on the wrong side of the road they can't see it or aren't paying any attention to it!

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Fri May 26, 2006 12:53 pm

People learn how to do what they must.

As to no accidents, well the video was, what, a minute long?

Wade tells us that there are now accidents in Madrid, despite the radical driving environment. I don't think that's quite the case. Actually, European cities (especially those where traffic laws are ignored like Madrid and Rome) have a fairly high accident rate. They tend to be minor, because their networks do not allow high speeds--only speeds that seem fast under the conditions.

I once drove a colleague around downtown Houston, and he pronounced me qualified to drive in Taipei. But I've mellowed since then.

It does present some challenges to those of us who are charged with managing the mess.

Rick "who knows the guys in Spain who developed their highly regarded traffic simulation model" Denney

TubeNet

And I thought DC traffic was bad!

And I thought DC traffic was bad!

D.C. traffic