Still no cure for the fact that cars have mass and take up space. Still, maybe this can lead to new road designs that can diffuse or limit propogation of these "traffic waves."

It's not any big scientific question; it's just the fact that most people are dumb.

I mean...I've often thought about this or that technological solution, but then I see these morons tailgating at 45 miles an hour in heavy traffic, and it's like...dude, what are you thinking? And, of course, the answer is "nothing". He isn't thinking. He's just in total Stimulus-Response mode, which is where most people seem to put themselves when they get into a car.

This is where the real benefit of a "Smart Highway" system will come from; that is, forcing people like this to leave space ahead of them, to not panic-brake, to stay in place instead of dodging back and forth in an attempt to find the "fast lane".

Actually, a lot of the traffic problems would be cured if everyone on the road was in a reasonably well programmed stimulus/response mode, instead of "rubbernecking" or "I'm not letting anybody get ahead of ME" mode. The trouble with trying to enforce such obedience is human nature, and good luck fighting that. I know the first thing I'll be doing to any "smart highway" system is figuring out how it can be hacked. For, uh, research purposes. Not "get ahead of everyone" or "screw around with people" purposes. That's my story, etc.