Since navigation applications came into our lives, “I know the way, I don’t need navigation.” Even those who say this seem to be left in a corner, right?
Thanks to these extraordinary little helpers, finding the shortest route, avoiding traffic and even discovering the nearest fuel station is now at our fingertips. But these technological miracles can sometimes surprisingly create more traffic.
Let’s dig into this ironic situation a bit. At first glance, you may think that an application that recommends the fastest route for everyone should minimize traffic problems. But the truth of the matter is not like that. How Does? Let’s take you downstairs.
When navigation applications sometimes suggest roads that seem to be the most logical to everyone, they can actually fill those roads to the brim.
In a sense, the “shortest path” can suddenly become the “longest path”. In addition, route suggestions provided by smart applications can sometimes turn even quiet neighborhood roads into busy streets. Yes, you heard the truth!
When everyone starts using the same undiscovered shortcut, those quiet streets can turn into tiny highways, and this can have unpleasant consequences for both the residents of the neighborhood and those who want to use that road.
Navigation applications that aim to take users to their destinations in the fastest and most efficient way actually create a “smart traffic” paradox.
However, if each user follows the same route, it creates new traffic jams. Now that you think about it, it sounds familiar, right? Especially when you go to a new city, applications that suggest different routes direct you to places that seem to have come out of nowhere.
To better understand the insidious role of navigation applications in generating traffic, it is useful to understand a little bit about how they work.
Applications calculate which roads are less heavy with the data they collect from us ordinary drivers (Yes, our current speed and location, etc.). It then sends that information back to everyone on the road. Nice, practical, useful, but this is where the strangeness begins.
Imagine, you set out to go to work one morning and the application directed you to a route other than the city’s busiest street. “Wow!” You said and took your new route. But remember, thousands of people received the same information at the same time as you. And that quiet street suddenly became a popular route.
This situation is something like the traffic version of a social phenomenon known as the “tragedy of the commons”. When everyone tries to make the best option considering their own interests, the end result is a terrible outcome for all of us.
It would be an understatement to say that we were surprised, because it was obvious that there was something wrong with this since the moment he directed us to the mountain top… Don’t forget to share your intentions in the comments!
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