Causes for traffic jams and accidents Why snow causes chaos in the Rhineland
BONN · It’s always the same - as soon as it starts snowing in the Rhineland, drivers go crazy and tyres are spinning. Traffic jams and traffic chaos are the consequences. A traffic expert explains why this happens.
Merely three snowflakes in sight and the Rhineland turns into a traffic chaos stronghold. At least this is how the emotional state of many readers can be summed up on Thursday morning. Between 5am and 10am, 30 traffic accidents happened, 21 in Bonn city boundaries alone.
Roman Suthold, ADAC traffic expert, has a simple explanation for the annual traffic chaos. Generally, drivers are struggling with new situations always: „After two or three days, motorists get used to the new situation. That’s the same everywhere.“ Even in Munich, this kind of behaviour can be noticed. The human being is a creature of habit.
Also, the traffic volume plays a vital role. „The individual driving behaviour can affect the traffic in its entirety very quickly,” said Suthold. „Particularly in the Rhineland, where the system is already at its limit.“ If the average speed level sinks, the entire capacity sinks too.
But Suthold has major advice for drivers in the Rhineland, yet it is so simple: „Stay calm, relax.“ Stressing out never helps anyway.
Original text: Sebastian Meltz Translation: Mareike Graepel
