Comments on: Need a PhD Topic? How about cops in traffic

By: JK

JK — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:36:16 +0000

Back in the late ’70s, I read what was purported to be a true story, which reflects this situation well. Went something like this:

A guy in a hurry to get home from work in a smaller community came upon a bunch of cars moving slower than the speed limit, due to a police car up front. After a mile or so, the police car slowed down even more, an everyone else did the same, not wanting to pass the police car.

After a couple of minutes of this, the guy decided to enough was enough. He sped up to the speed limit, and passed all the cars–including the police car.

Immediately the police car’s lights and siren were activated, and both the guy and police pulled off to the side of the road. The other drivers laughed at the guy for being so foolish as they drove past.

The officer approached the guy’s car with a brown bag in hand. The guy opened his window to ask why he was pulled over for going the speed limit, and the officer said: “My wife had asked me to pick up some ice cream before I came home. I’d just picked some up a few minutes ago when I got a radio call needing me to pull another shift. I didn’t want the ice cream to melt, so I decided to drive real slow, and give it to the first person brave enough to pass me. Enjoy.”

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:21:03 +0000

Seems like in Belgium we’re not as conscious about that fact. When a cop car is doing 120 kph on a highway (where the limit is 120 kph), people overtake it at 125-130 kph and go on their merry way.

By: Justin Hendrickson

Justin Hendrickson — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:15:26 +0000

By: Victoria-Tienda bebe

Victoria-Tienda bebe — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:05:24 +0000

After reading this, a question that comes up to my mind is if cops can manipulate traffic lights for tickets…

By: Ed Lea

Ed Lea — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:05:21 +0000

You might be interested in this too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Suugn-p5C1M

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:57:48 +0000

X: Yup, that’s it! Thanks.

Eric: I agree, I’m sure they know about it. I would say most people know about it in an empirical manner. I’m curious to see what could be learned by formally modeling it.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:54:29 +0000

The police have known about this for years, of course, and I’ve heard them claim that’s why they often drive 75 mph in a 65 mph zone: They don’t want to back up traffic.

By: X

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:45:54 +0000

I’m pretty sure this the article you remember:

http://amasci.com/amateur/traffic/traffic1.html