The Accordion Effect

The "Accordion Effect": The Physics of the Traffic Wave

Have you ever slammed on your brakes because the car in front did, only to find that half a mile ahead, everyone is moving at full speed again? You were caught in an "Accordion Effect." This occurs when a lead vehicle's slight deceleration is amplified by the reaction time of every driver behind them. By the time the tenth car reacts, they are coming to a dead stop. To break this wave, a driver must resist the urge to close gaps immediately; by leaving space, you act as a "buffer" that absorbs the shockwave, smoothing out the road for miles behind you.