Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)

This is a quick read that engenders a number of interesting "a-ha" moments. Vanderbilt explains why traffic happens, what days have the most accidents (after the time change from standard to daylight time), how late merging really is the optimal solution for everyone, who causes the most accidents (students - followed in close second by doctors!) and how timed entrances into the highway really do work (using an example of rice being poured into a narrow beaker he explains that rice will enter the beaker faster if it is poured in gradually rather than dumping it all in at the same time). The book isn't packed with statistics and focuses more on ideas and anecdotes. An enjoyable read!

A wonderful book confirming all the suspicions we have had for years:

'The things that work best in the traffic world of the highway - consistency, uniformity, wide lanes, knowing what to expect ahead of time, the reduction of conflicts, the restriction of access, and the removal of obstacles - have little or no place in the social world.'

Tom Vanderbilt explains in a sensible and humourous language why traffic is so bad for us and what we can do about it.

The book is based on several investigations and sources supporting the view that driving can be improved with a little sense both from drivers but certainly also from politicians. Especially the chapter about roadbuilding leading to more traffic ought to be obligatory reading for any politician who may wish to build a highway or a bridge in order to improve traffic.
The Fatal Flaws of Traffic Engineering is yet another chapter recommendable to the men and women in charge of traffic.

The book also informs us about the main charactheristic of the ordinary driver: Selfishness. Actually, it is proven that if another driver is waiting to get your parking space you will be slower to leave it! Besides, about 80% of all drivers find that their driving is above average! According to the book as well as the references therein the driver personality is partly based on self deception thus providing good explanation for our embarrasing high numbers of accidents.

Vanderbilt also mentions the impact on house prices, health and environment and suggest more methods to reduce traffic.

Perhaps one should send it to the Government for Christmas.

Tom Vanderbilt's Traffic is an engaging, fun, humbling and instructive book that I purchased for some light reading. The dimensions of the human activity called "driving" and its resultant "traffic" are, as described in this book, more complex than rocket science.

There is a bit of something for everyone in this book: sociology, geography, archeology, psychology (including abnormal,) evolutionary biology, entomology, civil engineering and architecture, statistics, politics, religion, and the philosophy of aesthetics.

I can't add much to the already excellent reviews of Traffic, but will suggest that having read it, I have changed behaviors that have been enmeshed within my psyche for the last 30 years on the road. To get a glimpse into the behavior of drivers in traffic, and thus to see my own behaviors, is to simultaneously come to empathize with my fellow travelers but also to appreciate our human limitations. As a species we simply haven't evolved to handle the speed and complexity of our technology of travel, and the sobering statistic of 40,000 traffic-related fatalities each year is beyond comprehension and generally under the radar of media attention.

I highly recommend this book, this story of traffic that is a worldwide phenomenon, where each culture takes on the challenge sometimes in its own unique way. I learned something about you, me, and citizens around the world by reading about this "common-denominator" activity and its societal dimensions.

I concur that at times, the chapters seemed a bit "long." I didn't think this took away from the enjoyment or the flow of the writing. The overall content more than made up sometimes having to "muscle through" a less-interesting paragraph.

On a personal note, I have decided to commit to something that my wife will appreciate: after reading about the effects of alcohol and statistics of accidents/fatalities, I will not drive even after one, non-buzzing drink. When I have a casual, social drink, without feeling any effects of the alcohol, I am seven times more likely to be involve in or to cause a fatal accident behind the wheel. If for no other reason, I'd suggest we read this book to appreciate the statistics of driving under the influence, whether or not we realize we are under that influence or will readily admit to it.

Have fun, be safe in traffic, and enjoy this book!

Vanderbilt does a great job of bringing to light a lot of interesting quirks in how we drive. Unfortunately his still of prose is a little too much like a manual so sometimes what should be fascinating becomes mildly interesting.

Overall a very good read but if you read it at night it might take longer.

A fascinating and eye-opening look at the reasons behind the ways we drive. You may not be as good a driver as you think you are, and this book will tell you why. Written in an entertaining style, but with full documentation and endnotes for those who need more