[cortesoft]

Every time people try to say we can eliminate traffic if we just leave space in between cars, I think of this great article: http://jliszka.github.io/2013/10/01/how-traffic-actually-wor...

TL;DR there is an effective maximum number of cars that can pass through a given point of roadway (about 1 car per 2 seconds per lane). No amount of space-leaving is going to chance that.

[tetraodonpuffer]

I think you need to read the update #2 in the page you linked, of course you can't create capacity out of nowhere, but if you are in a "phantom jam" situation it does help to "smooth things out" as the page clarifies (which I think is what this article is about)

[cortesoft]

I guess I am just not used to that sort of traffic jam where I am. Here, it is always just 'way too many fucking cars on the road'

[janekm]

In that traffic jam, is 1 car passing that point every 2s? No? Then I guess your road is not operating at peak capacity.

[cortesoft]

That is the maximum number of cars that can pass a given point in 2 seconds; it does not mean that a road operating at peak capacity can reach that number.

You also have to take into account cars merging onto the road you are on. Imagine a road acting at peak efficiency, with a car passing every 2 seconds. Now merge in more cars. They are going to push back every car behind by that same 2 seconds.

You can read the section on 'merging' in the link above to read more details.