Why Does the Highway Get Congested?
2 Answers
Highway congestion can be attributed to several reasons: 1. Free passage during holidays greatly stimulates car owners' enthusiasm for self-driving trips, leading to overcrowding on highways; 2. Traffic accidents on the highway cause vehicles to be unable to pass; 3. Road construction on certain sections of the highway. China has numerous highway toll stations, and even if all toll stations are open for free during holidays, the narrow passageways at toll stations inevitably lead to reduced vehicle speeds. The slowdown of one or a few vehicles may not cause issues, but if multiple vehicles continuously slow down to pass simultaneously, it will inevitably reduce the overall traffic flow efficiency, resulting in congestion.
I often drive on highways and find that the main cause of traffic jams is the sheer volume of vehicles, especially during rush hours in the morning and evening or on holidays. The road is packed with cars, and once a vehicle in front slows down or a large truck occupies the lane, the cars behind have to brake, creating a chain reaction that leads to a complete standstill. Toll booths and entry/exit points also become bottlenecks, often causing long queues. My suggestion is to check real-time traffic conditions using a navigation app before heading out to avoid peak congestion times; keep some snacks and music in the car to ease the frustration of being stuck in traffic. Safety comes first—drive patiently and avoid tailgating.
