Traffic wave

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Traffic waves, also called stop waves or traffic shocks, are travelling disturbances in the distribution of cars on a highway. Traffic waves usually travel backwards in relation to the motion of the cars themselves, or "upstream". The waves can also travel downstream, but more commonly become "pinned" to a single spot on the road. Traffic waves are a type of traffic jam. A deeper understanding of traffic waves is a goal of the physical study of traffic flow. When looking at traffic waves, the traffic itself can often be looked at in a manner of fluid dynamics. It has been said that by knowing how traffic waves are created drivers can sometimes reduce their effects, alleviating traffic congestion for everyone in the area.