| Middle French trafique, from Old Italian traffico, from trafficare to trade in coastal waters. Traffic in [[English]] is taken from the Arabic word taraffaqa, which means to walk along slowly [[together]]. | | Middle French trafique, from Old Italian traffico, from trafficare to trade in coastal waters. Traffic in [[English]] is taken from the Arabic word taraffaqa, which means to walk along slowly [[together]]. |
| Traffic is [[formally]] [[organized]] in many [[jurisdictions]], with marked lanes, junctions, intersections, interchanges, traffic signals, or signs. Traffic is often [[classified]] by [[type]]: heavy motor vehicle (e.g., car, truck); other vehicle (e.g., moped, bicycle); and pedestrian. [[Different]] classes may [[share]] [[speed]] limits and easement, or may be [[segregated]]. Some [[jurisdictions]] may have very detailed and [[complex]] rules of the road while others rely more on drivers' common sense and willingness to [[cooperate]]. | | Traffic is [[formally]] [[organized]] in many [[jurisdictions]], with marked lanes, junctions, intersections, interchanges, traffic signals, or signs. Traffic is often [[classified]] by [[type]]: heavy motor vehicle (e.g., car, truck); other vehicle (e.g., moped, bicycle); and pedestrian. [[Different]] classes may [[share]] [[speed]] limits and easement, or may be [[segregated]]. Some [[jurisdictions]] may have very detailed and [[complex]] rules of the road while others rely more on drivers' common sense and willingness to [[cooperate]]. |
− | [[Organization]] typically produces a better combination of [[travel]] safety and [[efficiency]]. Events which disrupt the [[flow]] and may cause traffic to degenerate into a disorganized mess include: road construction, collisions and debris in the roadway. On particularly busy freeways, a minor disruption may [[persist]] in a [[phenomenon]] known as traffic [[waves]]. A complete breakdown of [[organization]] may result in traffic jams and gridlock. [[Simulations]] of [[organized]] traffic frequently involve [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queuing_theory queuing theory], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stochastic_process stochastic processes] and [[equation]]s of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical_physics mathematical physics] applied to traffic [[flow]]. | + | [[Organization]] typically produces a better combination of [[travel]] safety and [[efficiency]]. Events which disrupt the [[flow]] and may cause traffic to degenerate into a disorganized mess include: road construction, collisions and debris in the roadway. On particularly busy freeways, a minor disruption may [[persist]] in a [[phenomenon]] known as traffic [[waves]]. A complete breakdown of [[organization]] may result in traffic jams and gridlock. [[Simulations]] of [[organized]] traffic frequently involve [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queuing_theory queuing theory], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stochastic_process stochastic processes] and [[equation]]s of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical_physics mathematical physics] applied to traffic [[flow]]. |