The Math Behind Phantom Traffic Jams | Science News

Science News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 25, 2026 · 2m

Traffic jams aren’t always caused by accidents—often they’re phantom jams born from tiny driver actions that ripple through the road like waves. Math reveals the secret: too many cars crammed together slow everyone down, and lane-switching just adds chaos. But here’s the twist—scientists are using AI and sensor data to predict and prevent jams before they form. In one experiment, just one self-driving car smoothed traffic for everyone else, proving small, smart changes can massively improve flow. So next time you’re stuck, remember: smooth driving isn’t just polite—it’s the key to keeping…