[bobeau]

Calling all US suburbanites - has anyone noticed a reduction in traffic during rush hour? Surely the Daylight Savings switchover has some effect, but the last couple days in San Diego have been weird in the reduction. Can't find news of any local events which would explain it.

[NevadaGhosts]

Nope. People drive more than ever and faster than ever. Large SUV's and trucks still everywhere.

[jato]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'b')ut the last couple days in San Diego have been weird in the reduction.

[bobeau]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jato', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'b')ut the last couple days in San Diego have been weird in the reduction.

[SD_Scott]

At 4 PM today, it was like a holiday on the 15 north. Very light traffic. Thats wierd that you posted this, because I was wondering why the traffic was so thin lately. I live in Poway and that whole section of the 15 is under construction and it's usually really slow from Scripps Poway parkway past the Ted Williams.

[pamur]

I haven't seen any significant reductions in peak freeway traffic in Seattle. Being retired I have kind of avoided that mess lately but a couple of times lately I have had to get out in it and it seems the same. Where do you think the first reduction in driving will occur? I bet we see less recreational travel first. You have to go to work and, at least in the Seattle area, public transit is a crummy option unless you live right downtown.

[MicroHydro]

No change in Silicon Valley. The people lucky enough to still have jobs will not reduce their driving until gas is well over $5 a gallon.

[bobeau]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pamur', 'W')here do you think the first reduction in driving will occur? I bet we see less recreational travel first. You have to go to work and, at least in the Seattle area, public transit is a crummy option unless you live right downtown.

[pup55]

It was spring break about a week ago, and it was noticeably better. Maybe that's what you are seeing.

At our place, there is a noticeable traffic improvement when the school buses are not running. They will start summer break in about a month.

This year, though, I have already noticed survey crews out ready to start the summer road work, so frankly, I expect it to be worse than normal.

Distance to work: 14 miles. Commute time (tonight) one hour and five minutes. Average speed: 12.92 mph.

There was a used corvette for sale the other day in a parking lot that I toyed briefly about calling the guy on, but at 12.92 mph, what's the point?

[bobeau]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pup55', 'I')t was spring break about a week ago, and it was noticeably better. Maybe that's what you are seeing.

[Grimnir]

Traffic hasn't slowed perceptibly, but the busses I ride sure have a lot more people in them these days!

[linlithgowoil]

its as busy as ever here (edinburgh, scotland). i drive from linlithgow to edinburgh and back every day (35 miles round trip). It takes roughly 45 minutes each way, though i made it in 35 minutes one day when it was very quite.

i average about 23 and a bit MPH therefore.

my car is an old (1996 january) renault laguna 1800cc 8valve, and i drive pretty gently (i stick to 55 mph), and i get around 35MPG which isnt bad i suppose. with petrol at about 80 pence, i get 100 miles for £10 roughly. However, its now up to 86 pence (was 79 pence about 3 months ago), and i get less now. I think 86 pence equals about £3.90 per gallon (4.55 litres per gallon in UK). In US $ this would then be :- $7.30 ish i think? (using about £1.89 per $1.00).

I do about 1000 miles per month - so i spend just a bit over £100 per month on petrol. After end of August, i'll no longer have this job and will work very near home though, which will save about £80 per month in petrol..

People here wouldnt stop driving to work unless petrol went a LOT higher - i'm talking about £1.50 per litre or more. Most people have a lot of spare cash/credit which they spend on booze, take aways and holidays and if forced, they'd give all that up and spend it on petrol. Problem then is - no economy as no consumer spending, as we all know.

[RonMN]

Minneapolis MN here...maybe a SLIGHT decrease in traffic here, nothing too noticable though.

[NeoPeasant]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Grimnir', 'T')raffic hasn't slowed perceptibly, but the busses I ride sure have a lot more people in them these days!

[aahala]

I don't know if traffic has declined or not, but a small reduction in the
number of vehicles during a given time period can have a disproportional
effect on thruput and your impression of it.

If a particular intersection can easily handle a 100 cars per time period,
adding 1 or 2 may not change the flow just 1 or 2 percent. It could bring
everybody to a near stop. And small reductions can reduce bottlenecks
that were occuring prior to this.

[Yavicleus]

Haven't seen less traffic here in South East Virginia, but now that it's warm here I have seen an increase in motorcycles on the road.

[RiverRat]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pup55', '
')Distance to work: 14 miles. Commute time (tonight) one hour and five minutes. Average speed: 12.92 mph.

[aahala]

I think it's the National Highway Transporation Safety Agency that has
authority to propose changes to the CAFE standards, and if Congress fails
to act, their proposals become law.

The NHTSA never does diddly squat in this area, as they know anything
major will be trumped by Congress and their future authority and funding
would likely be cut if they tried to lead beyond what Congress wants.

[Aira]

I drive the 57 & 60 here in the Los Angeles area daily.

I've noticed the same thing ever since gas prices started marching upward, but with a caveat. If I leave work during traditional busy times... like 5-6PM... the freeway is as crowded as it always is. But, if I need to leave late, 6:30 or later, traffic is so much better than it was when I've needed to stay late in the past.

I attribute it to less discretionary driving. The people on the roads between 5 and 6 are leaving work and will be on the road no matter what the price of gas is. By 6:30, most people are at home already. Instead of going out somewhere, they're staying home.

[bobeau]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('aahala', 'I') don't know if traffic has declined or not, but a small reduction in the
number of vehicles during a given time period can have a disproportional
effect on thruput and your impression of it.

If a particular intersection can easily handle a 100 cars per time period,
adding 1 or 2 may not change the flow just 1 or 2 percent. It could bring
everybody to a near stop. And small reductions can reduce bottlenecks
that were occuring prior to this.