Today I learned: The Longest Traffic Jam in History Lasted for 12 Days

in til •  8 years ago 


Source

Yeah, you read that title correctly.

Back in 2010 in China the world’s longest traffic jam occurred on a highway named the Beijing-Tibet Expressway. Not surprisingly to any of you the traffic jam began because of construction on the roadway and when some of these construction vehicles blocked an exit from the highway. This caused a chain reaction and began a traffic jam that lasting for over 12 days and covering a distance of 62 miles! (Citation)


The Beijing-Tibet Expressway is in Red on this Map

While the traffic jam was occurring apparently drivers were only able to move their cars 0.6 miles per day, and some of the drivers claimed to be stuck in the traffic jam for as many as five days. (Citation). This highway was originally created for large trucks to travel across China with, however as the population there has continued to grow and with it the number of drivers, the highway has become widely used by everyone. I get angry when traffic backs up around Boston and I have to wait for an hour, I couldn’t imagine having to wait for 5 days to get home! What do you think? What is the longest traffic jam you have ever been in?

Sources:

  1. http://www.autoevolution.com/news/the-longest-traffic-jam-in-history-12-days-62-mile-long-47237.html
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_National_Highway_110_traffic_jam
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20100826082536/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/china-traffic-jam-stretching-100-kilometres-could-last-for-weeks/article1683094/
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The longest I was ever in was a freak snow storm while traveling from Piza to the tip of Italy. The roads iced over and tractor trailers jack knifed on the main highway stranding everyone for 6 hours. It was high in the mts and totally scary.

That sounds awful. Glad everything turned out okay!

I am too, thank goodness I was with my son who lived in Catana, Sicily at the time. He was stationed there and he was used to the area.

How would the person live? Food, water, sleep, gas for the car even.

Ahaha just saw this. I wrote the same comment half a second ago! ^^

Its a good question. I am sure the cars were turned off (its not like they were moving anywhere). But how they got food/water I do not know. It sounds awful.

Jesus! 12 days! What else to do when you're stuck in the dark? I guess the birth rate was up 15% 9 months after ;)

Lol, if the car is a rockin... don't come a knockin.

hahaha

wow thats a long jam lol

Yeah, a pretty unbelievably long time. People were stuck inside it for up to 5 days, how would they get food?

there were probably guys with carts selling stuff

yeah this makes sense

Indeed, It sounded miserable!

The future of traffic jams, lasting years (Gridlock, Dr. Who):

Goodness, I am blessed for living in a small town. a 2 min traffic jam is hectic for us!

  ·  8 years ago (edited)

I imagine people in their car, stuck without food, sometimes possibly running out of gas... damned!

EDIT: I promise: I haven't copy pasted @getonthetrain comment...

It's a situation of great minds think alike!

That's the positive side! Thank you. One may have also said that this was a situation of one guy not reading other's comments before commenting ;)

I hate traffic lol

Me too... it actually causes me some anxiety.

That is quite impressive and a great example of government failure. No reason not to privatize all roads and go with an allodial system.

Yeah... I don't like the idea of privatized roads. I pay enough tolls thank you very much.

Oh. Do you really think that public roads are free? That maybe someone else pays the cost for you to use them? Also, take a look at the qaulity of public versus private roads and let me know if you are really happy with what public roads are giving you.

Jesus, I am well aware of their costs. I likely pay more than most for the roads (as I get paid more than most).

I heard about this when it happened. I don't think I could have survived that! It is like my worst nightmare - even worse than the one where my teeth fall out!