That "driver angst" is due to drivers actually having to pay attention to traffic. At a signal, they don't pay attention, so they think it's easier.

Edmund Waddell <edmundwaddell@HOTMAIL.COM>

Dear Ken, We conducted research on "Traffic Frustration Index" some years a=

go.  The research report (PDF):

GUNATILLAKE, T., CAIRNEY, P. and AK=C7ELIK, R. (2000) Traffic Management Pe=

rformance - Development of the Traffic Frustration Index. <http://www.austr=

oads.com.au/default.html>  AUSTROADS Project Report AP-R160. Association of=

 Australian State Road and Transport Authorities, Sydney, Australia.

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is available free of charge (requires login) from:

https://www.onlinepublications.austroads.com.au/items/AP-R160-00

=20

What I remember from this study is that subjects indicated high level of fr=

ustration for unexpected events associated with very short delay (driver in=

 front slowing down suddenly in order to make a turn on a minor street) and=

 low levels of frustration for red lights with long duration on major arter=

ial roads  (qualified as expected delay).=20=20=20

=20

Rahmi

Subject: Re: Road Frustration Index

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Very interesting. However, off hand I think it may be more complicated than=  first appearances. From a personal standpoint, my "frustration" is more st= rongly related to how much of a hurry I am in, usually due to whether I sta= rted my trip with plenty of time or later than I should have.=20

Also, Manhattan is a relatively small town as far as big city traffic goes,=  and I can usually get from one side of the town to the other through five = or six traffic signal in about 10 minutes no matter what the traffic or sig= nal settings are. But when the signals are all green I'm very happy. When I=  hit most of them on red =E2=80=93 and although it makes no sense it seems = like that happens when I'm in a hurry =E2=80=93 by the time I hit the fourt= h, fifth or sixth red I am very, very frustrated, although time is that muc= h different.=20

Another example: today I was late for a meeting and somehow got behind a sl= ow moving garbage truck that was impossible to pass. Yes I was a bit frustr= ated but wouldn't have been if I hadn't been late for the meeting.=20

The only point of making is that I think it goes beyond actual delay or rea= son for delay.=20

But a very interesting study.=20

gene=20