[erlanger]

If you want to help traffic, stop hitting your damn brakes so much. Brakes are for strong deceleration, and most deceleration in traffic can be handled by letting off the gas. Once you get good at this, follow as closely as possible in a traffic jam without applying your brakes.* There's nothing better a skilled driver can do to alleviate a traffic jam. The jam is physically shorter and people behind you are less likely to apply their own brakes as a result of these measures.

* This has the added benefit of making for a smoother ride, which also encourages those behind you to ease off the brakes.

[BRadmin]

Driving in Los Angeles, this is exactly what I do... I'm convinced that most traffic jams are caused by people needlessly applying their brakes and slow cars clogging the fast (far left) lane.