Gridlock on a network of one-way streets. The red cars are those causing the gridlock by stopping in the middle of the intersection.
is a term describing an inability to move on a
transport network. The term originates from a situation possible in a grid network where intersections are blocked, preventing vehicles from either moving forwards through the intersection or backing up to an upstream intersection.
The term
gridlock is also widely used to describe high
traffic congestion with minimal flow (a "
traffic jam"), whether or not a blocked grid system is involved. By extension, the term has been applied to situations in other fields where flow is stalled by excess demand, or in which competing interests prevent progress.
Cause
The traditional form of gridlock is caused by
traffic heading in one direction blocking cross traffic at an intersection. In many jurisdictions, drivers are prohibited from entering an intersection at a green light if there is no room for them to clear the intersection. If drivers follow this
rule of the road, gridlock will be prevented and traffic will only be slow in the direction that is actually congested. One method of reducing gridlock is to aggressively enforce penalties for vehicles that block intersections.
Another type of gridlock can occur during traffic surges between highway on-ramps and off-ramps located within a quarter mile of each other. Traffic exiting the highway may back up and block the entering vehicles.
Gridlock is sometimes cited as an example of the
prisoner's dilemma (from
game theory). Mutual cooperation among drivers would give the maximum benefit (prevention of gridlock), but this may not happen because of the desire to maximize one's own benefit (shortest travel time) given the uncertainty about the other drivers' commitment to cooperation.
Enforcement
New York City
Vehicles "blocking the box" in New York City
In
New York City, drivers who "
block the box" are subject to a moving violation that comes with a US$90.00 penalty. Mayor
Michael Bloomberg, noting that the ten minute ticketing process actually contributes to overall
traffic congestion, has recently asked the
New York State Legislature to remove “blocking the box” from the moving violation category. This reclassification would give more traffic agents authority to write tickets and change the current ticketing procedure, which requires that the issuing officer physically stop the violating car in traffic.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
In
Virginia Beach, Virginia, roads around the oceanfront feature signs at every intersection stating "Don't Block the Box", and threatening a $200 fine. It is also illegal to
cruise along Atlantic Avenue in the city, due to the heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the area during the summer months.
Effects
The obvious impacts are driver frustration and trip delay. Another impact in cities is exacerbated by the presence of urban street canyons, which effectively trap air pollution and increase air pollution exposures of motorists as well as the general urban population. Noise pollution can be aggravated by excessive starting and stopping noise of gridlocked facilities.
Etymology
The first appearances of the word
gridlock in newspapers occurred during the
1980 New York City transit strike. The word is attributed to
Sam Schwartz, who was the chief traffic engineer for the city's Department of Transportation at the time of the strike. Schwartz said the word
gridlock was used internally in his department during the 1970s, perhaps as early as 1971.
See also
