Traffic
By Tom Vanderbilt
Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us). Alfred A. Knopf, 2008.
Summary of Traffic book by Tom Vanderbilt
Explores the intricate mesh of psychological and sociological elements that make up driving style, unveiling hidden facets of your personality and astonishing insights into the human psyche.
Chapters in Traffic book summary
What do you get from this book? Eye-opening revelations on the psychological dynamics of driving
Traffic has always been bad, and it’s only getting worse with advanced transportation
When humans feel powerless and lose their self-identity, their behavior turns problematic
The absence of inhibition normalizes aggression, and only direct interactions can disrupt the spell
Humans cannot accurately interpret their own driving, giving machines an advantage
Drivers are terrible at concentrating on the road and constantly miss what’s right in front of them
Traffic illusions pose significant danger, undermining our trust in our senses
The flow of traffic is disrupted by human mood swings and daily variables that are monitored by experts
With the rising female workforce, and increased weekend trips, congestion has surged
Building new streets won't clear up traffic jams, though taxing highways might just do the trick
Everyday traffic hassles like queuing and sign-watching are riskier than you might think
How we view road signs and calming measures changes how we interact with them
Driving style reflects the type of society in which we live, including levels of corruption
We all do our best while on the road, but human nature is inherently flawed
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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Traffic — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Traffic book
- urban planners
- safety advocates
- traffic engineers
- armchair psychologists
- driving instructors
About the author of Traffic
Tom Vanderbilt
Tom Vanderbilt is an American journalist and author whose written work investigates science and technology, and their impact on culture. He is a contributing writer for the blog Design Observer and many of his pieces have been featured in publications such as New York Times Magazine, Popular Science, and Wired.
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