Christie Farrell Lee & Bell
  • About
    • Our Blog
    • Indiana Injury Case Co-Counsel
    • Firm News
    • Video Center
    • Giving Back
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Truck Accidents
    • Birth Injury
    • Car Accidents
    • Catastrophic Injury
    • Dog Bites
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Motorcycle Accidents
    • Premises Liability
    • Product Liability
    • Traumatic Brain Injuries
    • Wrongful Death
  • Areas Served
    • Indianapolis
    • Fort Wayne
    • Evansville
    • South Bend
    • Bloomington
    • Gary
    • Lafayette
    • Muncie
    • Terre Haute
    • Lawrenceburg
    • Kokomo
    • Richmond
    • Crown Point
    • Carmel
  • Reviews
  • Attorneys
  • Results
  • Contact Us
Call Us Today! CTA Icon 317-488-5500

Blog 5 Traffic Myths Debunked

5 Traffic Myths Debunked

December 22, 2024
By Kyle Christie
YouTubeLinkedInFacebookGoogle BusinessYelp
Prev Post Next Post

Traffic issues are a common frustration, and if you’ve ever been in an accident, consulting with an experienced car accident lawyer can help you navigate the aftermath and protect your rights.

No matter where you live, you probably deal with traffic in some capacity. No one enjoys sitting in traffic, but unfortunately, it is a daily frustration for a lot of people.

There are a lot of myths surrounding traffic, and we’re here to set the record straight. Read on to learn how many urban legends about traffic are untrue.

#1 – Additional roads decrease the incidence of traffic.

It is commonly believed that if more roads or more lanes on existing roads were added, then traffic congestion wouldn’t be as bad. The belief is completely rational. If there are 200 cars driving on a highway, then adding another lane would mean that 100 cars could be in one lane and another 100 could be in the other lane.

However, transportation research shows that people who have stayed off the roads out of frustration are eager to start driving again. The phenomenon is referred to as “induced demand.”

Essentially, it means that adding more roads ultimately causes more traffic, not less, even if it doesn’t happen right away.

For answers to your questions, call:
317-488-5500

#2 – The other lane is moving faster.

You’ve likely been in a situation where you’re stuck in traffic and all the other lanes appear to be moving but yours. Now you can rest easy knowing that the progress you believe other drivers are making in their lanes is usually an insidious visual illusion. This eye trickery occurs because you are able to see cars pass you more frequently than you are capable of seeing yourself pass other vehicles. This rings true even when you pass just as many cars as pass you.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now

#3 – Bike lanes increase traffic jams.

It is logical to believe that reducing the number of traffic lanes on a given road in order to implement a traffic lane for bicyclists, may not actually be the case.

For instance, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) implemented 31 miles of protected bike lanes. What they found was that the city not only made biking safer, but they also identified the secondary benefit of speeding up vehicular traffic.

Click to contact us today

#4 – Wider roads are safer than narrower ones.

At first glance, it may appear that wider roads are safer for drivers than narrower ones. However, some studies show that wide lanes actually encourage people to drive at faster speeds, which eliminates any safety benefits that drivers may gain as a result of the wider lanes. Unfortunately, this additional space tends to lead to even more dangerous roads.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now

#5 – Added public transportation decreases traffic rates.

It is perfectly reasonable to believe that additional public transportation options can decrease incidences of heavy traffic. Unfortunately, this often is not the case at all.

While some people will choose not to drive and instead utilize public transportation to get around, research tends to show that travel times don’t usually change much when additional public transportation options are available.

If Someone’s Recklessness Caused Your Injuries, We Can Help

Getting into a car accident is not an easy situation to endure. Crashes are often painful and frustrating experiences. If someone else’s negligence caused you to sustain injuries in a car accident, you may be owed compensation for your losses.

Our skilled team is highly experienced in car accident law and has helped many others in similar situations obtain justice.

Let our attorneys and staff see if we can help you too.

Contact Christie Farrell Lee & Bell today with the details of your case by calling 317-488-5500 or filling out our online contact form to learn more about how we can assist you.

Call 317-488-5500 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

Categories

  • Car Accidents

Related Posts

May 12
Legal Options for Truck Accident Victims in Multi-Vehicle Collisions
Truck accidents, particularly those involving multiple vehicles, can be incredibly complex. These collisions often lead to serious injuries and extensive...
View Article
May 12
How Wrongful Death Settlements Are Calculated in Truck Accident Cases
Losing a loved one due to a truck accident is an incredibly painful and challenging experience. While no amount of...
View Article
May 06
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Indiana?
Missing Indiana's personal injury filing deadlines means permanently losing your right to compensation, even if you have an ironclad case....
View Article
Christie Farrell Lee & Bell
317-488-5500

Local Office

951 N Delaware St
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Map & Directions [+]

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Our Team
  • Practice Areas
  • Blog
  • Firm News
  • Video Center
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy

Practice Areas

  • Truck Accidents
  • Car Accidents
  • Catastrophic Injuries
  • Dog Bite Injury
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Nursing Home Abuse
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Wrongful Death
  • CooperSurgical Embryo Loss Lawsuit

Follow Us

YouTubeLinkedInFacebookGoogle BusinessYelp
Us News Logo Us News Logo 2025

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Terms of Service

Phone Icon