Name: How to solve traffic jams
Uploaded: 2012-11-27T15:59:43Z
Duration: 8 min 10 s
Description: It's an unfortunate reality in nearly every major city -- road congestion, especially during rush hours. Jonas Eliasson reveals how subtly nudging just a small percentage of drivers to stay off major roads can make traffic jams a thing of the past.

It's an unfortunate reality in nearly every major city -- road congestion, especially during rush hours. Jonas Eliasson reveals how subtly nudging just a small percentage of drivers to stay off major roads can make traffic jams a thing of the past.

How to solve traffic jams

Solving city congestion does not require massive infrastructure or bans. In Stockholm, charging just one or two euros at bottlenecks made 20 percent of rush hour cars disappear almost overnight. This small shift led to a dramatic drop in traffic jams, which remained even years later. Surprisingly, public opinion flipped from fierce opposition to strong support once people experienced the easier commutes.