cross-posted from: https://feddit.it/post/28637207

Those who use the bike know this very well: in the city, speeding motorists overtaking other cars, only get one thing: they arrive first to the next red.

With a simple model, the author estimated the probability that one car that overtakes another, will then be reached again at a later red light. Then he estimated the probability that the same thing will happen when there are multiple successive traffic lights, as usual in the cities.

The result is that as fast as an aggressive driver goes, the presence of multiple traffic lights makes it virtually certain that a slower driver will catch up

So, if someone aggressively overcomes you, when you reach him at the next traffic light, you can tell him that it is mathematically proven that he/she is an idiot.

In addition, this study has implications for the 30 km/h city, demonstrating how in urban areas the traffic lights determine the travel times, not the maximum speed reachable between one traffic light and the next.

The original scientific article is here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/4/260310/481212/The-Voorhees-law-of-traffic-a-stochastic-model

crossposted from: https://poliversity.it/users/rivoluzioneurbanamobilita/statuses/116419204210303856

  • Drusas@fedia.io
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    2 days ago

    I only overtake in the city when someone is driving like an idiot and I want to get away from them. Or if they’re driving like they don’t know where they’re going and keep slowing down to read every road sign.

    • TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      yes, people forget the best way to avoid danger is to be far away from it.

      way too many drivers on the road are menances. i see all sorts of awful driving anytime i get in the car and i want to be either way behind, or way ahead of such people.

      not to mention all the uber/delivery drivers who just slam stop in the middle of the road to pickup/drop off.