LOSSES DUE TO TRAFFIC
American drivers are wasting more time and money in traffic jams than ever before, reports David Schrank of Texas A&M University, and commuters are adjusting to longer travel times rather than phasing in long-term solutions. New road construction, improved road management, and more flexible work schedules could all provide some gridlock reduction. But until Americans change urban planning to have work, home, and shopping in closer proximity, Schrank says, the congestion will probably only get worse. What might clear things up in a hurry, he notes, are gasoline prices in the $5 per gallon range—not exactly the relief most people are seeking.
