1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,540 Don't try what you're about to see at home. 2 00:00:02,540 --> 00:00:04,340 We're what you call experts. 3 00:00:04,340 --> 00:00:05,540 Okay, go. 4 00:00:05,540 --> 00:00:07,540 Oh! 5 00:00:07,540 --> 00:00:10,880 -♪ 6 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:16,420 -♪ 7 00:00:16,420 --> 00:00:18,520 I hate traffic. 8 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:19,320 Yeah. 9 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,360 You know, that could be something we should test. 10 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:24,320 I don't need to test it. I hate traffic. 11 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:25,360 No, no, no. I'm saying, 12 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:27,760 what if we did a whole Mythbusters on traffic? 13 00:00:27,780 --> 00:00:30,720 Like, we investigated how traffic jams form, 14 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,060 ways of getting around them, ways of navigating them. 15 00:00:33,060 --> 00:00:34,560 A whole episode on traffic. 16 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:36,160 Oh, hold on. I love this song. 17 00:00:36,160 --> 00:00:37,160 Oh, cool. 18 00:00:37,160 --> 00:00:40,440 -♪ 19 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,500 Yep, it's music to every motorist's ears. 20 00:00:43,500 --> 00:00:45,000 Let's drive! 21 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,440 The highway Holy Grail. 22 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,980 The keys to unlock gridlock. 23 00:00:50,980 --> 00:00:53,840 The team is testing traffic tricks. 24 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:55,580 Traffic might suck to sit in, 25 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:57,800 but it's really fun to experiment with. 26 00:00:57,800 --> 00:00:59,700 From unexpected jams 27 00:00:59,700 --> 00:01:01,980 to intersection efficiency. 28 00:01:01,980 --> 00:01:03,980 From constantly changing lanes... 29 00:01:03,980 --> 00:01:05,180 Sorry, sorry. 30 00:01:05,180 --> 00:01:06,780 ...to switching for a plane. 31 00:01:06,780 --> 00:01:08,180 Tears to fly. 32 00:01:08,180 --> 00:01:10,420 The Mythbusters are guaranteed 33 00:01:10,420 --> 00:01:12,420 to get your freeway flowing. 34 00:01:12,420 --> 00:01:14,260 I'm gonna pee so bad. 35 00:01:14,260 --> 00:01:15,260 Oh! 36 00:01:15,260 --> 00:01:16,260 Oh, my God. 37 00:01:16,260 --> 00:01:17,760 Oh, my God. 38 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:19,760 Who are the Mythbusters? 39 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:21,760 Adam Savage. 40 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:23,060 That's all I do for... 41 00:01:23,060 --> 00:01:24,460 And Jamie Heineman. 42 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:25,980 We're gonna have an adventure. 43 00:01:25,980 --> 00:01:28,180 Between them more than 30 years 44 00:01:28,180 --> 00:01:30,180 of special effects experience... 45 00:01:30,180 --> 00:01:33,180 Together with Tori Belichi. 46 00:01:33,180 --> 00:01:35,180 We're gonna die! 47 00:01:35,180 --> 00:01:36,680 Grant Imahara. 48 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,180 A little hotter than I expected. 49 00:01:38,180 --> 00:01:39,680 And Carrie Byron. 50 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:41,180 Fire! 51 00:01:41,180 --> 00:01:44,180 They don't just tell the myths. 52 00:01:44,180 --> 00:01:46,180 They put them to the test. 53 00:01:46,900 --> 00:01:48,900 Buckle up. 54 00:01:48,900 --> 00:01:50,900 The Mythbusters are waging war 55 00:01:50,900 --> 00:01:52,900 on the scourge of modern motoring. 56 00:01:52,900 --> 00:01:54,900 Traffic. 57 00:01:54,900 --> 00:01:56,900 The enemy of all 58 00:01:56,900 --> 00:01:58,900 and friend of none. 59 00:01:58,900 --> 00:02:00,900 Where you going, you half-wit? 60 00:02:00,900 --> 00:02:02,900 To understand its cause and chaos, 61 00:02:02,900 --> 00:02:04,900 the science of the jams, 62 00:02:04,900 --> 00:02:06,900 the team is tackling the foremost requested 63 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:08,900 congestion questions. 64 00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:10,900 The Mythbusters are waging war 65 00:02:10,900 --> 00:02:12,900 on the scourge of modern motoring. 66 00:02:12,900 --> 00:02:14,900 Traffic. 67 00:02:15,620 --> 00:02:17,620 So where do we start? 68 00:02:17,620 --> 00:02:19,620 Well, let me ask you a question. 69 00:02:19,620 --> 00:02:21,620 How do traffic jams like this form? 70 00:02:21,620 --> 00:02:23,620 I thought it was like when a cop pulled somebody over 71 00:02:23,620 --> 00:02:25,620 or there's an accident. 72 00:02:25,620 --> 00:02:27,620 Well, there's a theory out there 73 00:02:27,620 --> 00:02:29,620 that a traffic jam can form from something as simple 74 00:02:29,620 --> 00:02:31,620 and innocuous as somebody stepping on their brakes. 75 00:02:31,620 --> 00:02:33,620 But that would cause the person behind them 76 00:02:33,620 --> 00:02:35,620 to step on their brakes and so on and so on 77 00:02:35,620 --> 00:02:37,620 in a wave like a butterfly effect 78 00:02:37,620 --> 00:02:39,620 that would cause a huge traffic jam. 79 00:02:39,620 --> 00:02:41,620 Well, that's interesting. 80 00:02:41,620 --> 00:02:43,620 Sounds like something for us to investigate. 81 00:02:44,340 --> 00:02:46,340 That's what I thought. 82 00:02:46,340 --> 00:02:48,340 It's an interesting theory that if a car 83 00:02:48,340 --> 00:02:50,340 lightly breaks for no apparent reason, 84 00:02:50,340 --> 00:02:52,340 it can supposedly form a major 85 00:02:52,340 --> 00:02:54,340 shockwave jam that continues 86 00:02:54,340 --> 00:02:56,340 to propagate long after 87 00:02:56,340 --> 00:02:58,340 the initial cause is moved on. 88 00:02:58,340 --> 00:03:00,340 But is it fact or freeway fable? 89 00:03:02,340 --> 00:03:04,340 To get to the bottom of this traffic myth, 90 00:03:04,340 --> 00:03:06,340 we're going to need some wide open space. 91 00:03:06,340 --> 00:03:08,340 With that in mind, 92 00:03:08,340 --> 00:03:10,340 we've come to our favorite place in the Bay Area, 93 00:03:10,340 --> 00:03:12,340 the Alameda Runway. 94 00:03:13,060 --> 00:03:15,060 We'll be using this wide open space 95 00:03:15,060 --> 00:03:17,060 to make our own road for testing. 96 00:03:17,060 --> 00:03:19,060 And away we go. 97 00:03:19,060 --> 00:03:21,060 That road will be circular. 98 00:03:21,060 --> 00:03:23,060 It will be 250 feet in diameter 99 00:03:23,060 --> 00:03:25,060 and we'll be building that of these 100 00:03:25,060 --> 00:03:27,060 traffic delineators. 101 00:03:27,060 --> 00:03:29,060 Hopefully, with all of that, 102 00:03:29,060 --> 00:03:31,060 we'll be able to look into the black soul of traffic. 103 00:03:31,060 --> 00:03:35,060 A view into the depths of traffic hell 104 00:03:35,060 --> 00:03:37,060 helped by a heavenly vantage point. 105 00:03:37,060 --> 00:03:39,060 While our track is all laid out, 106 00:03:39,060 --> 00:03:41,060 it is almost time to bring in our volunteers. 107 00:03:41,780 --> 00:03:43,780 So how is all this supposed to work? 108 00:03:43,780 --> 00:03:45,780 When I hit the brakes... 109 00:03:47,780 --> 00:03:49,780 Presumably, the car is following Jamie. 110 00:03:49,780 --> 00:03:51,780 We'll also step on their brakes. 111 00:03:51,780 --> 00:03:53,780 And we hope by watching this happen 112 00:03:53,780 --> 00:03:55,780 in real time to understand something 113 00:03:55,780 --> 00:03:57,780 about how traffic propagates. 114 00:03:57,780 --> 00:03:59,780 So fasten your seatbelts 115 00:03:59,780 --> 00:04:01,780 and let the games begin. 116 00:04:01,780 --> 00:04:03,780 One circular road a traffic jam does not make. 117 00:04:03,780 --> 00:04:05,780 All right, Jamie, 118 00:04:05,780 --> 00:04:07,780 in my mind, you're number one. 119 00:04:07,780 --> 00:04:09,780 Oh, jeez. 120 00:04:10,500 --> 00:04:12,500 Jamming behind Jamie's lead car 121 00:04:12,500 --> 00:04:14,500 will be a bunch of numbered volunteer vehicles. 122 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:16,500 And they'll be tricked out 123 00:04:16,500 --> 00:04:18,500 for traffic tricks with rooftop brake lights. 124 00:04:18,500 --> 00:04:20,500 This is how our brake monitoring system works. 125 00:04:20,500 --> 00:04:22,500 The driver puts his foot on the pressure switch 126 00:04:22,500 --> 00:04:24,500 that we've mounted onto the brake pedal. 127 00:04:24,500 --> 00:04:26,500 These guys will come on 128 00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:28,500 and that'll allow us to see overhead 129 00:04:28,500 --> 00:04:30,500 exactly what's happening 130 00:04:30,500 --> 00:04:32,500 to all the cars at once. 131 00:04:32,500 --> 00:04:34,500 Time to get the ducklings rolling. 132 00:04:34,500 --> 00:04:36,500 So Jamie, tailed by his troop of volunteers, 133 00:04:36,500 --> 00:04:38,500 hits the track. 134 00:04:39,220 --> 00:04:41,220 And with everyone settled into a comfortable rhythm, 135 00:04:41,220 --> 00:04:43,220 it's go slow time. 136 00:04:43,220 --> 00:04:45,220 What happens when an irresponsible driver 137 00:04:45,220 --> 00:04:47,220 unnecessarily hits the brakes? 138 00:04:47,220 --> 00:04:49,220 Okay, and three, 139 00:04:49,220 --> 00:04:51,220 two, one, 140 00:04:51,220 --> 00:04:53,220 I'm hitting my brake slightly. 141 00:04:53,220 --> 00:04:55,220 There goes, 142 00:04:55,220 --> 00:04:57,220 there goes three, 143 00:04:57,220 --> 00:04:59,220 there goes one, 144 00:04:59,220 --> 00:05:01,220 and one, 145 00:05:01,220 --> 00:05:03,220 and one, 146 00:05:03,220 --> 00:05:05,220 and one, 147 00:05:05,220 --> 00:05:07,220 and one, 148 00:05:07,940 --> 00:05:09,940 and three, 149 00:05:09,940 --> 00:05:11,940 there goes four, 150 00:05:11,940 --> 00:05:13,940 there goes five. 151 00:05:13,940 --> 00:05:15,940 Jamie's stepping his brakes right there 152 00:05:15,940 --> 00:05:17,940 and every car that hit that, 153 00:05:17,940 --> 00:05:19,940 up to car number seven, 154 00:05:19,940 --> 00:05:21,940 had to slow down a little bit. 155 00:05:21,940 --> 00:05:23,940 There is clearly a chain reaction 156 00:05:23,940 --> 00:05:25,940 to account for the lead car slowing down. 157 00:05:25,940 --> 00:05:27,940 This is so cool. 158 00:05:27,940 --> 00:05:29,940 But crucially, 159 00:05:29,940 --> 00:05:31,940 it has no significant 160 00:05:31,940 --> 00:05:33,940 or lasting effect on the flow of traffic. 161 00:05:33,940 --> 00:05:35,940 It's back to normal 162 00:05:36,660 --> 00:05:38,660 and it's going to have to be encouraged. 163 00:05:38,660 --> 00:05:40,660 That was really, really cool. 164 00:05:40,660 --> 00:05:42,660 Even in those conditions, 165 00:05:42,660 --> 00:05:44,660 we were able to watch it progress 166 00:05:44,660 --> 00:05:46,660 all the way back through almost all 10 cars. 167 00:05:46,660 --> 00:05:48,660 That tells me that there really 168 00:05:48,660 --> 00:05:50,660 might be something to this myth. 169 00:05:50,660 --> 00:05:52,660 It's a little something Adam likes to call 170 00:05:52,660 --> 00:05:54,660 Jamie Jammon. 171 00:05:54,660 --> 00:05:56,660 This traffic, it sucks. 172 00:05:56,660 --> 00:05:58,660 Ha ha ha. 173 00:05:58,660 --> 00:06:00,660 Next up, 174 00:06:00,660 --> 00:06:02,660 will lane picking patients really 175 00:06:02,660 --> 00:06:04,660 cut your commute? 176 00:06:05,380 --> 00:06:07,380 It's a little bit of a mess, 177 00:06:07,380 --> 00:06:09,380 but the myth is, 178 00:06:09,380 --> 00:06:11,380 it is better to stay in one lane 179 00:06:11,380 --> 00:06:13,380 in heavy traffic than to lane change. 180 00:06:13,380 --> 00:06:15,380 You'll get to your destination 181 00:06:15,380 --> 00:06:17,380 in the same amount of time. 182 00:06:17,380 --> 00:06:19,380 I don't know, dude. 183 00:06:19,380 --> 00:06:21,380 When I'm in traffic, 184 00:06:21,380 --> 00:06:23,380 I change lanes all the time. 185 00:06:23,380 --> 00:06:25,380 I think it works. 186 00:06:25,380 --> 00:06:27,380 All right, so lane weaving doesn't work. 187 00:06:27,380 --> 00:06:29,380 I like it. 188 00:06:29,380 --> 00:06:31,380 The myth states that picking 189 00:06:31,380 --> 00:06:33,380 and sticking with a lone lane 190 00:06:34,100 --> 00:06:36,100 is the best you can do. 191 00:06:36,100 --> 00:06:38,100 You can't get to the lane you were. 192 00:06:38,100 --> 00:06:40,100 Now to test this myth 193 00:06:40,100 --> 00:06:42,100 of weaving in and out of traffic 194 00:06:42,100 --> 00:06:44,100 versus staying in one lane, 195 00:06:44,100 --> 00:06:46,100 we are going to be driving 196 00:06:46,100 --> 00:06:48,100 down to San Jose Tech Museum. 197 00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:50,100 It is exactly 46 miles from our shop. 198 00:06:50,100 --> 00:06:52,100 Now, Kari and Grant, 199 00:06:52,100 --> 00:06:54,100 they're going to be weaving in and out of the lanes 200 00:06:54,100 --> 00:06:56,100 to see if they can find the fastest moving lane. 201 00:06:56,100 --> 00:06:58,100 Me, I'm going to pick one lane 202 00:06:58,100 --> 00:07:00,100 and stay on it until I get to my destination. 203 00:07:00,100 --> 00:07:02,100 And we'll see which one gets there faster. 204 00:07:02,820 --> 00:07:04,820 We're going to be driving 205 00:07:04,820 --> 00:07:06,820 30 miles of motoring mayhem. 206 00:07:06,820 --> 00:07:08,820 On clear roads, 207 00:07:08,820 --> 00:07:10,820 it would take less than an hour. 208 00:07:10,820 --> 00:07:12,820 At 7.30 a.m. 209 00:07:12,820 --> 00:07:14,820 Whoa! 210 00:07:14,820 --> 00:07:16,820 We're in luck! 211 00:07:16,820 --> 00:07:18,820 It's going to take a lot longer. 212 00:07:18,820 --> 00:07:20,820 And this is where the rubber meets the road. 213 00:07:20,820 --> 00:07:22,820 Is it best to stay put, 214 00:07:22,820 --> 00:07:24,820 as the myth suggests? 215 00:07:24,820 --> 00:07:26,820 Okay, I'm aggressive. 216 00:07:26,820 --> 00:07:28,820 I'm aggressive. 217 00:07:28,820 --> 00:07:30,820 I'm a lane changer. 218 00:07:31,540 --> 00:07:33,540 Because if you signal, they speak up. 219 00:07:33,540 --> 00:07:35,540 One thing's for sure, 220 00:07:35,540 --> 00:07:37,540 Tori in the blue car has the easiest job. 221 00:07:37,540 --> 00:07:39,540 So I'm just going to go ahead 222 00:07:39,540 --> 00:07:41,540 and get here in the middle lane. 223 00:07:41,540 --> 00:07:43,540 And I'm just going to stay here. 224 00:07:43,540 --> 00:07:45,540 You're right. 225 00:07:45,540 --> 00:07:47,540 My job is done. 226 00:07:47,540 --> 00:07:49,540 Sure, he can relax, 227 00:07:49,540 --> 00:07:51,540 but how's he going to beat team weave 228 00:07:51,540 --> 00:07:53,540 when his lane changing hands are tight? 229 00:07:53,540 --> 00:07:55,540 Right now, 230 00:07:55,540 --> 00:07:57,540 they have taken the lead. 231 00:07:57,540 --> 00:07:59,540 This is very frustrating 232 00:08:00,260 --> 00:08:02,260 because here I am, 233 00:08:02,260 --> 00:08:04,260 now stuck behind traffic, 234 00:08:04,260 --> 00:08:06,260 and I got to stay in this lane. 235 00:08:06,260 --> 00:08:08,260 I don't like staying in this lane. 236 00:08:08,260 --> 00:08:10,260 Carrie's freedom to choose 237 00:08:10,260 --> 00:08:12,260 may have given her an early advantage. 238 00:08:12,260 --> 00:08:14,260 I'm going to give it the wave. 239 00:08:14,260 --> 00:08:16,260 I'm going to do it and give it the wave. 240 00:08:16,260 --> 00:08:18,260 Thanks! 241 00:08:18,260 --> 00:08:20,260 But it's come at an adrenaline-burning cost. 242 00:08:20,260 --> 00:08:22,260 Oh! 243 00:08:22,260 --> 00:08:24,260 Oh! 244 00:08:24,260 --> 00:08:26,260 Plus, not only does Carrie have to constantly 245 00:08:26,260 --> 00:08:28,260 make strategically stressful decisions... 246 00:08:28,980 --> 00:08:30,980 Sorry, sorry, sorry! 247 00:08:30,980 --> 00:08:32,980 I'm not a nice person. 248 00:08:32,980 --> 00:08:34,980 Sorry. 249 00:08:34,980 --> 00:08:36,980 They don't always come off. 250 00:08:36,980 --> 00:08:38,980 Oh, look down! 251 00:08:38,980 --> 00:08:40,980 Bad move! 252 00:08:40,980 --> 00:08:42,980 Oh, no, they're going! 253 00:08:42,980 --> 00:08:44,980 You can't win. 254 00:08:44,980 --> 00:08:46,980 You can't win! 255 00:08:46,980 --> 00:08:48,980 Yep, in a mere 15 minutes 256 00:08:48,980 --> 00:08:50,980 and 17 lane changes into the test, 257 00:08:50,980 --> 00:08:52,980 there's been a lot of sweat, 258 00:08:52,980 --> 00:08:54,980 near blood, 259 00:08:54,980 --> 00:08:56,980 and fears. 260 00:08:57,700 --> 00:08:59,700 Are you kidding me right now? 261 00:08:59,700 --> 00:09:01,700 I think I see Carrie and Grant. 262 00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:03,700 They're like two cars ahead of me. 263 00:09:03,700 --> 00:09:05,700 It's neck and neck. 264 00:09:05,700 --> 00:09:07,700 Hey, look! I'm passing! 265 00:09:07,700 --> 00:09:09,700 Hi there! 266 00:09:09,700 --> 00:09:11,700 I'm in the same lane, 267 00:09:11,700 --> 00:09:13,700 and I've just passed Carrie. 268 00:09:13,700 --> 00:09:15,700 And Tori just passed us. 269 00:09:15,700 --> 00:09:17,700 Shut up! 270 00:09:17,700 --> 00:09:19,700 Yeah. 271 00:09:19,700 --> 00:09:21,700 And that's how it goes until the halfway mark. 272 00:09:21,700 --> 00:09:23,700 Calm and constant versus stress and dearest. 273 00:09:23,700 --> 00:09:25,700 Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh! 274 00:09:26,420 --> 00:09:28,420 But with Team Weave once again 275 00:09:28,420 --> 00:09:30,420 in a narrow, hard-earned lead... 276 00:09:30,420 --> 00:09:32,420 Oh, shoot! 277 00:09:32,420 --> 00:09:34,420 Oh, yeah! 278 00:09:34,420 --> 00:09:36,420 ...the traffic conditions 279 00:09:36,420 --> 00:09:38,420 alter radically. 280 00:09:38,420 --> 00:09:40,420 Traffic's really cleared up. 281 00:09:40,420 --> 00:09:42,420 I don't need to do anything here. 282 00:09:42,420 --> 00:09:44,420 For the final 20 miles, 283 00:09:44,420 --> 00:09:46,420 vehicle density is reduced to the point 284 00:09:46,420 --> 00:09:48,420 where both cars are cruising along 285 00:09:48,420 --> 00:09:50,420 at the speed limit, 286 00:09:50,420 --> 00:09:52,420 meaning Carrie and Grant 287 00:09:52,420 --> 00:09:54,420 maintain their lead to the finish line. 288 00:09:55,140 --> 00:09:57,140 That was a great hour and 11 minutes. 289 00:09:57,140 --> 00:09:59,140 But the bad news for Carrie is... 290 00:09:59,140 --> 00:10:01,140 Ah! 291 00:10:01,140 --> 00:10:03,140 It was a lot of risky road maneuvering 292 00:10:03,140 --> 00:10:05,140 for no reward. 293 00:10:05,140 --> 00:10:07,140 That was so stressful. 294 00:10:07,140 --> 00:10:09,140 Yeah. 295 00:10:09,140 --> 00:10:11,140 That was so stressful. 296 00:10:11,140 --> 00:10:13,140 It was not worth it. 297 00:10:13,140 --> 00:10:15,140 That was awful. 298 00:10:15,140 --> 00:10:17,140 And the bad news keeps coming. 299 00:10:17,140 --> 00:10:19,140 That's Tori! 300 00:10:19,140 --> 00:10:21,140 That is Tori! 301 00:10:21,140 --> 00:10:23,140 You are kidding me right now! 302 00:10:23,860 --> 00:10:25,860 Look, you guys beeped me by a whole minute and a half. 303 00:10:25,860 --> 00:10:27,860 Yep. 304 00:10:27,860 --> 00:10:29,860 There was a whole lot of stress 305 00:10:29,860 --> 00:10:31,860 for a time difference of just 2%. 306 00:10:31,860 --> 00:10:33,860 So although the Weaver won, 307 00:10:33,860 --> 00:10:35,860 the test was compromised 308 00:10:35,860 --> 00:10:37,860 with less than congested conditions. 309 00:10:37,860 --> 00:10:39,860 And the team is tending towards 310 00:10:39,860 --> 00:10:41,860 confirmed. 311 00:10:41,860 --> 00:10:43,860 Okay, so far, it's looking really good for the myth. 312 00:10:43,860 --> 00:10:45,860 Not so much for my mental health. 313 00:10:45,860 --> 00:10:47,860 We beat Tori by a minute and a half. 314 00:10:47,860 --> 00:10:49,860 Not worth it. 315 00:10:49,860 --> 00:10:51,860 The weaving, the stress, 316 00:10:52,580 --> 00:10:54,580 the strategizing, it was crazy. 317 00:10:54,580 --> 00:10:56,580 Still, this was supposed to be 318 00:10:56,580 --> 00:10:58,580 a really congested freeway, 319 00:10:58,580 --> 00:11:00,580 a really congested time, 320 00:11:00,580 --> 00:11:02,580 and it wasn't congested the whole way. 321 00:11:02,580 --> 00:11:04,580 Which means we have to test this further. 322 00:11:04,580 --> 00:11:06,580 Which means I might go gray 323 00:11:06,580 --> 00:11:08,580 by the end of this episode. 324 00:11:08,580 --> 00:11:10,580 No! 325 00:11:10,580 --> 00:11:12,580 Whoo! 326 00:11:12,580 --> 00:11:14,580 Later on Mythbusters, Adam and Jamie 327 00:11:14,580 --> 00:11:16,580 answer your intersection questions. 328 00:11:16,580 --> 00:11:18,580 I love the roundabout. 329 00:11:18,580 --> 00:11:20,580 And the road-raging lane weavers 330 00:11:21,300 --> 00:11:23,300 get wired. 331 00:11:23,300 --> 00:11:25,300 What the f***? 332 00:11:25,300 --> 00:11:27,300 Hey! 333 00:11:31,300 --> 00:11:33,300 Traffic. 334 00:11:33,300 --> 00:11:35,300 You either hate it, or you really hate it. 335 00:11:35,300 --> 00:11:37,300 Its causes and 336 00:11:37,300 --> 00:11:39,300 chaotic patterns are 337 00:11:39,300 --> 00:11:41,300 seemingly out of our control. 338 00:11:41,300 --> 00:11:43,300 Or are they? 339 00:11:43,300 --> 00:11:45,300 Because Jamie and Adam 340 00:11:45,300 --> 00:11:47,300 are asking if a lapse in concentration 341 00:11:47,300 --> 00:11:49,300 and sudden unexpected breaking 342 00:11:50,020 --> 00:11:52,020 can cause the genesis of a jam. 343 00:11:53,540 --> 00:11:55,540 I'm hitting my brakes lightly. 344 00:11:55,540 --> 00:11:57,540 And so far in life density 345 00:11:57,540 --> 00:11:59,540 traffic, the answer is no. 346 00:11:59,540 --> 00:12:01,540 But it's not over yet. 347 00:12:01,540 --> 00:12:03,540 They're ramping it up to rush hour. 348 00:12:03,540 --> 00:12:05,540 Now we want to go for broke. 349 00:12:05,540 --> 00:12:07,540 We're going to load this circle up with 22 cars 350 00:12:07,540 --> 00:12:09,540 and see just how long 351 00:12:09,540 --> 00:12:11,540 that wave might propagate 352 00:12:11,540 --> 00:12:13,540 when Jamie stamps on the brakes. 353 00:12:13,540 --> 00:12:15,540 That's all 22. It looks great. 354 00:12:15,540 --> 00:12:17,540 Just remember, folks, if you are watching this 355 00:12:17,780 --> 00:12:19,780 car while driving, you're part of the problem. 356 00:12:19,780 --> 00:12:21,780 As before, here we go. 357 00:12:21,780 --> 00:12:23,780 The goal is for Jamie to lead 358 00:12:23,780 --> 00:12:25,780 the flow of traffic at a steady 359 00:12:25,780 --> 00:12:27,780 20 miles an hour. 360 00:12:27,780 --> 00:12:29,780 This might take a little bit to get them up to 20. 361 00:12:29,780 --> 00:12:31,780 And then suddenly and unnecessarily 362 00:12:31,780 --> 00:12:33,780 hit the brakes. 363 00:12:33,780 --> 00:12:35,780 But there's a problem. 364 00:12:35,780 --> 00:12:37,780 I got up to nine. 365 00:12:37,780 --> 00:12:39,780 Oh, I'm back down to five. 366 00:12:41,780 --> 00:12:43,780 With 22 cars on our circular track, 367 00:12:43,780 --> 00:12:45,780 they've been driving for half an hour 368 00:12:46,020 --> 00:12:48,020 and we're going to be driving for about 369 00:12:48,020 --> 00:12:50,020 15 miles per hour. 370 00:12:50,020 --> 00:12:52,020 It seems that our traffic density 371 00:12:52,020 --> 00:12:54,020 is just too darn high. 372 00:12:54,020 --> 00:12:56,020 You know, this is kind of bumming me out, man. 373 00:12:56,020 --> 00:12:58,020 I hate sitting in traffic. 374 00:12:58,020 --> 00:13:00,020 So we're going to pull a couple cars out 375 00:13:00,020 --> 00:13:02,020 and see if that does the trick. 376 00:13:02,020 --> 00:13:04,020 All right, everyone, we're going to run this again. 377 00:13:04,020 --> 00:13:06,020 Honk your horn if you're ready. 378 00:13:06,020 --> 00:13:08,020 That's the sound of 379 00:13:08,020 --> 00:13:10,020 traffic being experimented on. 380 00:13:10,020 --> 00:13:12,020 Remember, folks, our goal 381 00:13:12,020 --> 00:13:14,020 is about 20 miles per hour. 382 00:13:14,260 --> 00:13:16,260 And we're going to be on the road to nowhere. 383 00:13:16,260 --> 00:13:18,260 It's mission accomplished. 384 00:13:18,260 --> 00:13:20,260 Heavy, yet free-flowing, freeway traffic. 385 00:13:20,260 --> 00:13:22,260 Well, pulling two cars out 386 00:13:22,260 --> 00:13:24,260 totally did the trick. 387 00:13:24,260 --> 00:13:26,260 Okay, now we're reaching 20. 388 00:13:26,260 --> 00:13:28,260 They've been driving now for 15 minutes 389 00:13:28,260 --> 00:13:30,260 and they're going at a steady 20 miles per hour. 390 00:13:30,260 --> 00:13:32,260 It seems that we've accidentally 391 00:13:32,260 --> 00:13:34,260 stumbled on the exact threshold 392 00:13:34,260 --> 00:13:36,260 of traffic density, 393 00:13:36,260 --> 00:13:38,260 which is just perfect for our testing purposes. 394 00:13:38,260 --> 00:13:40,260 Here we go. 395 00:13:40,260 --> 00:13:42,260 Will the consistent current of cars 396 00:13:42,500 --> 00:13:44,500 be able to drive under the slightest of provocations? 397 00:13:44,500 --> 00:13:46,500 Jamie, we're going to do 398 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:48,500 the gentle stepping on the brakes. 399 00:13:48,500 --> 00:13:50,500 I'll count you in. 400 00:13:50,500 --> 00:13:52,500 Three, two, one, go. 401 00:13:52,500 --> 00:13:54,500 Now. 402 00:13:54,500 --> 00:13:56,500 Here it comes. 403 00:13:56,500 --> 00:13:58,500 Four, five, six, seven, eight. 404 00:13:58,500 --> 00:14:00,500 Look, it's affecting 12, 13, 14. 405 00:14:00,500 --> 00:14:02,500 Moving back through. 406 00:14:02,500 --> 00:14:04,500 16, 18, 19, 20. 407 00:14:04,500 --> 00:14:06,500 Jamie's going to get stuck 408 00:14:06,500 --> 00:14:08,500 in his own traffic jam. 409 00:14:08,500 --> 00:14:10,500 Uh-oh. 410 00:14:10,740 --> 00:14:12,740 Look at what we wanted to see. 411 00:14:12,740 --> 00:14:14,740 Look at this. 412 00:14:14,740 --> 00:14:16,740 Now it's back 18. 413 00:14:16,740 --> 00:14:18,740 There it is, starting over here again. 414 00:14:18,740 --> 00:14:20,740 It's already on its third revolution. 415 00:14:20,740 --> 00:14:22,740 Ha-ha-ha-ha. 416 00:14:22,740 --> 00:14:24,740 And Jamie got stuck again. 417 00:14:24,740 --> 00:14:26,740 Yep, when the traffic density 418 00:14:26,740 --> 00:14:28,740 is high enough, 419 00:14:28,740 --> 00:14:30,740 a minor braking incident 420 00:14:30,740 --> 00:14:32,740 can clearly cause major congestion. 421 00:14:32,740 --> 00:14:34,740 With enough vehicles joining the back of the line, 422 00:14:34,740 --> 00:14:36,740 the jam continues to propagate. 423 00:14:36,740 --> 00:14:38,740 We've got a little bit of a problem here at Houston. 424 00:14:38,980 --> 00:14:40,980 Not that Adam cares. 425 00:14:40,980 --> 00:14:42,980 Traffic might suck to sit in, 426 00:14:42,980 --> 00:14:44,980 but it's really fun to experiment with. 427 00:14:44,980 --> 00:14:46,980 Despite the fact the vehicle density 428 00:14:46,980 --> 00:14:48,980 is optimized for 20 miles an hour, 429 00:14:48,980 --> 00:14:50,980 minor incidents continue 430 00:14:50,980 --> 00:14:52,980 the clogging, confirming the result, 431 00:14:52,980 --> 00:14:54,980 and Jamie's opinion of traffic. 432 00:14:54,980 --> 00:14:56,980 That's just wrong. 433 00:14:56,980 --> 00:14:58,980 I'm going like two miles an hour there. 434 00:14:58,980 --> 00:15:00,980 Jamie, you're complaining about 435 00:15:00,980 --> 00:15:02,980 being in experimental traffic, you realize. 436 00:15:02,980 --> 00:15:04,980 Experimental, real world, 437 00:15:04,980 --> 00:15:06,980 who cares? 438 00:15:07,220 --> 00:15:09,220 Real world, who cares? 439 00:15:09,220 --> 00:15:11,220 It's traffic, it sucks. 440 00:15:11,220 --> 00:15:13,220 As Mark Twain almost said, 441 00:15:13,220 --> 00:15:15,220 there are two certainties in life. 442 00:15:15,220 --> 00:15:17,220 Traffic sucks, 443 00:15:17,220 --> 00:15:19,220 and this myth is confirmed. 444 00:15:19,220 --> 00:15:21,220 Turns out that in heavy traffic, 445 00:15:21,220 --> 00:15:23,220 you don't have to have an accident 446 00:15:23,220 --> 00:15:25,220 to cause a problem. 447 00:15:25,220 --> 00:15:27,220 All somebody has to do is blink, 448 00:15:27,220 --> 00:15:29,220 and they can set off a massive traffic jam. 449 00:15:29,220 --> 00:15:31,220 All right, Jamie, step on your brakes right now. 450 00:15:31,460 --> 00:15:33,460 Yeah! 451 00:15:33,460 --> 00:15:35,460 Yeah, let it out! 452 00:15:35,460 --> 00:15:37,460 Let it out! 453 00:15:37,460 --> 00:15:39,460 Ha ha ha ha! 454 00:16:01,460 --> 00:16:03,460 Next up, the Rider Cup of the Roads. 455 00:16:05,460 --> 00:16:07,460 Have you ever driven through Europe? 456 00:16:07,460 --> 00:16:09,460 I have. 457 00:16:09,460 --> 00:16:11,460 What did you think of the roundabouts? 458 00:16:11,460 --> 00:16:13,460 I liked them. 459 00:16:13,460 --> 00:16:15,460 There's a myth that a roundabout 460 00:16:15,460 --> 00:16:17,460 is a far more effective way 461 00:16:17,460 --> 00:16:19,460 to move cars through an intersection 462 00:16:19,460 --> 00:16:21,460 than the four-way stop signs we have here in the United States. 463 00:16:21,460 --> 00:16:23,460 The cars get through quicker. 464 00:16:23,460 --> 00:16:25,460 Apparently. 465 00:16:25,460 --> 00:16:27,460 Let's test it. 466 00:16:27,460 --> 00:16:29,460 Totally. 467 00:16:29,700 --> 00:16:31,700 Are they a triumph of efficiency 468 00:16:31,700 --> 00:16:33,700 or compared to the good old American four-way 469 00:16:33,700 --> 00:16:35,700 a catastrophic circus of congestion? 470 00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:37,700 So we're gonna set them both up, 471 00:16:37,700 --> 00:16:39,700 run them through the paces, 472 00:16:39,700 --> 00:16:41,700 and see which one comes out on top. 473 00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:43,700 It's as simple as that. 474 00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:45,700 They'll mark out a four-way intersection 475 00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:47,700 with traffic barriers. 476 00:16:47,700 --> 00:16:49,700 Ha ha ha ha! 477 00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:51,700 Woo! 478 00:16:51,700 --> 00:16:53,700 And then compare the efficiency... 479 00:16:53,700 --> 00:16:55,700 I believe I've reached my peak laziness. 480 00:16:55,700 --> 00:16:57,700 ...of traffic flow between the two systems. 481 00:16:57,940 --> 00:16:59,940 For a little added realism, 482 00:16:59,940 --> 00:17:01,940 we've decided to give each of the four streets 483 00:17:01,940 --> 00:17:03,940 in our intersection a real name. 484 00:17:03,940 --> 00:17:05,940 There's plausible parkway, 485 00:17:05,940 --> 00:17:07,940 shadow drive, boom boom boulevard. 486 00:17:07,940 --> 00:17:09,940 And then there's my personal favorite, 487 00:17:09,940 --> 00:17:11,940 C4 Avenue. 488 00:17:11,940 --> 00:17:13,940 Oh, we've got our course set up, 489 00:17:13,940 --> 00:17:15,940 and except for all the barriers and cones, 490 00:17:15,940 --> 00:17:17,940 as you can see, it's a pretty normal four-way stop. 491 00:17:17,940 --> 00:17:19,940 So how's this gonna work? 492 00:17:19,940 --> 00:17:21,940 Well, our drivers are gonna be driving 493 00:17:21,940 --> 00:17:23,940 up to one of these four stop signs. 494 00:17:23,940 --> 00:17:25,940 And we're gonna be driving 495 00:17:26,180 --> 00:17:28,180 up to one of these four stop signs. 496 00:17:28,180 --> 00:17:30,180 And so, of course, they're going to be lawfully stopping. 497 00:17:30,180 --> 00:17:32,180 At each of our stop signs, 498 00:17:32,180 --> 00:17:34,180 we're gonna have an operator 499 00:17:34,180 --> 00:17:36,180 operating one of these split cards, 500 00:17:36,180 --> 00:17:38,180 which will direct our drivers, 501 00:17:38,180 --> 00:17:40,180 either right, left, or straight ahead. 502 00:17:40,180 --> 00:17:42,180 No U-turns. 503 00:17:42,180 --> 00:17:44,180 And every time somebody drives through the intersection, 504 00:17:44,180 --> 00:17:46,180 I'll be counting it with this handy little clicker. 505 00:17:46,180 --> 00:17:48,180 And after a measured period of time, 506 00:17:48,180 --> 00:17:50,180 we'll see how many cars are able 507 00:17:50,180 --> 00:17:52,180 to make it through our four-way stop safely. 508 00:17:52,180 --> 00:17:54,180 Our first test is gonna run for 15 minutes. 509 00:17:54,420 --> 00:17:56,420 I'm gonna hit the siren and start counting. 510 00:17:58,420 --> 00:18:00,420 We are starting the first test. 511 00:18:00,420 --> 00:18:02,420 And now, it's a numbers game. 512 00:18:02,420 --> 00:18:04,420 Gonna have to focus on this. 513 00:18:04,420 --> 00:18:06,420 Jamie and his trusty clicker 514 00:18:06,420 --> 00:18:08,420 count each car 515 00:18:08,420 --> 00:18:10,420 that makes it through the intersection. 516 00:18:10,420 --> 00:18:12,420 Okay, we're up to 123. 517 00:18:12,420 --> 00:18:14,420 And so far, with little 518 00:18:14,420 --> 00:18:16,420 or no waiting time, 519 00:18:16,420 --> 00:18:18,420 it seems like the American way 520 00:18:18,420 --> 00:18:20,420 is as good as it gets. 521 00:18:20,420 --> 00:18:22,420 Four-way stop. 522 00:18:22,660 --> 00:18:24,660 Four-way stop seems like 523 00:18:24,660 --> 00:18:26,660 it works pretty well, actually, 524 00:18:26,660 --> 00:18:28,660 from where I'm standing. 525 00:18:28,660 --> 00:18:30,660 You know, it's efficient. 526 00:18:30,660 --> 00:18:32,660 I feel like I've been driving forever. 527 00:18:32,660 --> 00:18:34,660 Oh, that's it. 528 00:18:34,660 --> 00:18:36,660 Time's up. 529 00:18:36,660 --> 00:18:38,660 And time for the result. 530 00:18:38,660 --> 00:18:41,660 378 intersection crossings. 531 00:18:41,660 --> 00:18:43,660 15 minutes. 532 00:18:43,660 --> 00:18:45,660 That couldn't have gone better. 533 00:18:45,660 --> 00:18:47,660 That felt exactly like I was in real traffic, 534 00:18:47,660 --> 00:18:49,660 even down the little hitches at the intersection. 535 00:18:49,660 --> 00:18:51,660 I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go. 536 00:18:51,900 --> 00:18:53,900 There we go. 537 00:18:53,900 --> 00:18:55,900 I'm not sure it was my turn, 538 00:18:55,900 --> 00:18:57,900 but I think he gave me difference, 539 00:18:57,900 --> 00:18:59,900 because, well, I'm the host. 540 00:18:59,900 --> 00:19:01,900 I think this is an excellent metric, 541 00:19:01,900 --> 00:19:03,900 but just to make sure, 542 00:19:03,900 --> 00:19:05,900 we're gonna run this test one more time 543 00:19:05,900 --> 00:19:07,900 and average the results. 544 00:19:07,900 --> 00:19:09,900 Yep, and second time around, 545 00:19:09,900 --> 00:19:11,900 it runs just as smoothly. 546 00:19:11,900 --> 00:19:13,900 Oh, I'm making a right-hand turn now. 547 00:19:13,900 --> 00:19:15,900 But the repetition is clearly getting to Adam. 548 00:19:15,900 --> 00:19:17,900 You know, Jamie used to be a doorman 549 00:19:17,900 --> 00:19:19,900 at Studio 54 in New York. 550 00:19:20,140 --> 00:19:23,140 He once kept Cher from getting into Studio 54. 551 00:19:23,140 --> 00:19:25,140 He was like, 552 00:19:25,140 --> 00:19:27,140 not you, Cher. 553 00:19:27,140 --> 00:19:29,140 Delirious rambling aside, 554 00:19:29,140 --> 00:19:31,140 the result is in. 555 00:19:31,140 --> 00:19:33,140 391. 556 00:19:33,140 --> 00:19:35,140 What we need now is a summary. 557 00:19:35,140 --> 00:19:37,140 Adam? 558 00:19:37,140 --> 00:19:39,140 We had an average of 385 drivers 559 00:19:39,140 --> 00:19:41,140 cross through this intersection 560 00:19:41,140 --> 00:19:43,140 in just 15 minutes. 561 00:19:43,140 --> 00:19:46,140 That's more than one car every two and a half seconds. 562 00:19:46,140 --> 00:19:48,140 That's a pretty high level of throughput 563 00:19:48,380 --> 00:19:50,380 for this intersection. 564 00:19:50,380 --> 00:19:52,380 But before we proceed all the way 565 00:19:52,380 --> 00:19:54,380 to resetting everything for a roundabout, 566 00:19:54,380 --> 00:19:56,380 it occurs to me that there is one more way 567 00:19:56,380 --> 00:19:58,380 that a four-way intersection can work. 568 00:19:58,380 --> 00:20:00,380 Without stop signs. 569 00:20:00,380 --> 00:20:02,380 And with a cop. 570 00:20:02,380 --> 00:20:04,380 Where's my badge? 571 00:20:04,380 --> 00:20:06,380 And a gun. I want a gun. Where's my gun? 572 00:20:06,380 --> 00:20:08,380 Yep, before they check out the roundabout. 573 00:20:08,380 --> 00:20:10,380 Here we go, commencing traffic cop test. 574 00:20:10,380 --> 00:20:12,380 Adam wants to know 575 00:20:12,380 --> 00:20:14,380 if a former member of the village people 576 00:20:14,380 --> 00:20:16,380 can move traffic faster 577 00:20:16,620 --> 00:20:18,620 than they would in a public service 578 00:20:18,620 --> 00:20:20,620 that is covered in stop signs. 579 00:20:20,620 --> 00:20:22,620 There are a number of different ways 580 00:20:22,620 --> 00:20:24,620 we make it through intersections. 581 00:20:24,620 --> 00:20:26,620 There are stop signs, there are roundabouts. 582 00:20:26,620 --> 00:20:28,620 But then there are also traffic lights. 583 00:20:28,620 --> 00:20:30,620 This is my favorite test of this episode so far. 584 00:20:30,620 --> 00:20:32,620 And so we want to know 585 00:20:32,620 --> 00:20:34,620 if the decision making that the traffic cop 586 00:20:34,620 --> 00:20:36,620 is doing is more efficient 587 00:20:36,620 --> 00:20:38,620 and quicker at getting people 588 00:20:38,620 --> 00:20:40,620 through an intersection 589 00:20:40,620 --> 00:20:42,620 than the decision making that all those individual 590 00:20:42,620 --> 00:20:44,620 drivers can do by themselves. 591 00:20:44,860 --> 00:20:46,860 289. 592 00:20:46,860 --> 00:20:48,860 About 30% slower. 593 00:20:48,860 --> 00:20:50,860 Yep, the good old four-way stop sign 594 00:20:50,860 --> 00:20:52,860 governed by the people 595 00:20:52,860 --> 00:20:54,860 for the people 596 00:20:54,860 --> 00:20:56,860 is clearly more efficient. 597 00:20:56,860 --> 00:20:58,860 Question is, how will it fare 598 00:20:58,860 --> 00:21:00,860 against the roundabouts? 599 00:21:04,860 --> 00:21:06,860 Carrie Grant and Tori 600 00:21:06,860 --> 00:21:08,860 are testing the theory 601 00:21:08,860 --> 00:21:10,860 that the lane change is all pain 602 00:21:10,860 --> 00:21:12,860 for no real game. 603 00:21:13,100 --> 00:21:15,100 So today is the final experiment 604 00:21:15,100 --> 00:21:17,100 for our weaving versus 605 00:21:17,100 --> 00:21:19,100 staying in one lane myth. 606 00:21:19,100 --> 00:21:21,100 But there's going to be a difference 607 00:21:21,100 --> 00:21:23,100 and that difference is we're going to fill each 608 00:21:23,100 --> 00:21:25,100 lane with a car marked 1-4 609 00:21:25,100 --> 00:21:27,100 to correspond to their lane. 610 00:21:27,100 --> 00:21:29,100 And Tori will be the weaving driver. 611 00:21:29,100 --> 00:21:31,100 He'll be in a car marked X. 612 00:21:31,100 --> 00:21:33,100 Alvin car number one. 613 00:21:33,100 --> 00:21:35,100 Where's Carrie Byron, you ask? 614 00:21:35,100 --> 00:21:37,100 Oh yeah, it's a much nicer ride. 615 00:21:37,100 --> 00:21:39,100 Yep, Carrie's getting high in the sky 616 00:21:39,100 --> 00:21:41,100 to keep an eye on the road race below. 617 00:21:41,340 --> 00:21:43,340 Alright, Buster, let's do this. 618 00:21:45,340 --> 00:21:47,340 While X marks the silver car spot 619 00:21:47,340 --> 00:21:49,340 for road weavers Balachian Buster 620 00:21:49,340 --> 00:21:51,340 Get your weaving on, Tori. 621 00:21:51,340 --> 00:21:53,340 Grant and his three fellow lane stares 622 00:21:53,340 --> 00:21:55,340 will provide a comprehensive comparison 623 00:21:55,340 --> 00:21:57,340 to Tori's tactic 624 00:21:57,340 --> 00:21:59,340 by logging a time 625 00:21:59,340 --> 00:22:01,340 for all four lanes on the highway. 626 00:22:01,340 --> 00:22:03,340 Nice. Oh, those are good weave there. 627 00:22:03,340 --> 00:22:05,340 A time that will be earned 628 00:22:05,340 --> 00:22:07,340 the hard way. 629 00:22:07,340 --> 00:22:09,340 I thought driving in traffic was bad. 630 00:22:09,580 --> 00:22:11,580 I mean, trying to weave like this 631 00:22:11,580 --> 00:22:13,580 is very stressful. 632 00:22:13,580 --> 00:22:15,580 Stressful, but so far fruitful. 633 00:22:15,580 --> 00:22:17,580 A few minutes into the test 634 00:22:17,580 --> 00:22:19,580 and Tori's already leading. 635 00:22:19,580 --> 00:22:21,580 Dude, I can't even see Tori. 636 00:22:21,580 --> 00:22:23,580 He passed me. 637 00:22:23,580 --> 00:22:25,580 I went over two lanes to the right, 638 00:22:25,580 --> 00:22:27,580 passed me and he's gone. 639 00:22:27,580 --> 00:22:29,580 Grant can't see Tori, 640 00:22:29,580 --> 00:22:31,580 but Carrie can. 641 00:22:31,580 --> 00:22:33,580 Alright, I can see car X 642 00:22:33,580 --> 00:22:35,580 as Chosen Lane 2 643 00:22:35,580 --> 00:22:37,580 and is scurried ahead of the pack. 644 00:22:37,820 --> 00:22:39,820 A couple of car lengths that come 645 00:22:39,820 --> 00:22:41,820 at a high blood pressure cost. 646 00:22:41,820 --> 00:22:43,820 Let me in. Let me in. 647 00:22:43,820 --> 00:22:45,820 Oh, okay. 648 00:22:45,820 --> 00:22:47,820 Nice. 649 00:22:47,820 --> 00:22:49,820 F***. 650 00:22:49,820 --> 00:22:51,820 But moments later, 651 00:22:51,820 --> 00:22:53,820 Tori's lost the ground he so painfully gained. 652 00:22:53,820 --> 00:22:55,820 Car 1, car X 653 00:22:55,820 --> 00:22:57,820 and car 3 are neck and neck. 654 00:22:57,820 --> 00:22:59,820 Grant in the fast lane 655 00:22:59,820 --> 00:23:01,820 actually looks like he is making headway. 656 00:23:01,820 --> 00:23:03,820 Car X 657 00:23:03,820 --> 00:23:05,820 is going to have to weave around him. 658 00:23:06,060 --> 00:23:08,060 And that's just what Tori does. 659 00:23:08,060 --> 00:23:10,060 Right. We going for it. 660 00:23:10,060 --> 00:23:12,060 For the next 10 miles, living on the edge. 661 00:23:12,060 --> 00:23:14,060 Oh, f***. 662 00:23:14,060 --> 00:23:16,060 That's got killed by a truck. 663 00:23:16,060 --> 00:23:18,060 Feeling the strain of the lane change pain. 664 00:23:18,060 --> 00:23:20,060 Holy crap, almost got killed. 665 00:23:20,060 --> 00:23:22,060 He slowly, 666 00:23:22,060 --> 00:23:24,060 but surely, 667 00:23:24,060 --> 00:23:26,060 eeks out a significant 5-minute advantage. 668 00:23:26,060 --> 00:23:28,060 But interestingly, 669 00:23:28,060 --> 00:23:30,060 from his perspective, 670 00:23:30,060 --> 00:23:32,060 lane weaving is not working. 671 00:23:32,060 --> 00:23:34,060 This is the thing about switching lanes. 672 00:23:34,300 --> 00:23:36,300 The moment you think your lane is going slow, 673 00:23:36,300 --> 00:23:38,300 you get out of it. 674 00:23:38,300 --> 00:23:40,300 But it's right at that moment that it starts speeding up again. 675 00:23:40,300 --> 00:23:42,300 It's kind of counterintuitive. 676 00:23:42,300 --> 00:23:44,300 That's his subjective perception. 677 00:23:44,300 --> 00:23:46,300 But the result is down to one 678 00:23:46,300 --> 00:23:48,300 objective number. 679 00:23:48,300 --> 00:23:50,300 Time. And on the final leg, 680 00:23:50,300 --> 00:23:52,300 it's the toll plaza taking its toll on Tori. 681 00:23:56,300 --> 00:23:58,300 Gridlock. And Grant's lane suddenly closes in. 682 00:23:58,300 --> 00:24:00,300 See this right here? 683 00:24:00,300 --> 00:24:02,300 It's toll plaza. 684 00:24:02,540 --> 00:24:04,540 This is what we call the great equalizer. 685 00:24:04,540 --> 00:24:06,540 You might be ahead by, 686 00:24:06,540 --> 00:24:08,540 you know, I don't know, 15, 20 minutes. 687 00:24:08,540 --> 00:24:10,540 You get to this toll plaza. 688 00:24:10,540 --> 00:24:12,540 Everything grinds to a complete halt. 689 00:24:12,540 --> 00:24:14,540 Yep. 690 00:24:14,540 --> 00:24:16,540 With hundreds of cars jammed in, 691 00:24:16,540 --> 00:24:18,540 bumper to bumper, it's a luck. 692 00:24:18,540 --> 00:24:20,540 But Tori has picked the winning toll lane ticket. 693 00:24:20,540 --> 00:24:22,540 And has threw first 694 00:24:22,540 --> 00:24:24,540 an on the home stretch. 695 00:24:24,540 --> 00:24:26,540 Back to the shop, most of it. 696 00:24:26,540 --> 00:24:28,540 We relax. 697 00:24:28,540 --> 00:24:30,540 Question is, how far behind are the others? 698 00:24:30,780 --> 00:24:32,780 First to appear is Grant. 699 00:24:32,780 --> 00:24:34,780 What's your time? 700 00:24:34,780 --> 00:24:36,780 One hour and 19 minutes. 701 00:24:36,780 --> 00:24:38,780 I beat you by three minutes. 702 00:24:38,780 --> 00:24:40,780 A mere 4% time difference. 703 00:24:40,780 --> 00:24:42,780 And close behind by a minute 704 00:24:42,780 --> 00:24:44,780 is car number two. 705 00:24:44,780 --> 00:24:46,780 But while waiting for the third lane sticker, 706 00:24:46,780 --> 00:24:48,780 time takes on. 707 00:24:48,780 --> 00:24:50,780 And the gap is significantly larger. 708 00:24:50,780 --> 00:24:52,780 And he was 13 minutes behind me. 709 00:24:52,780 --> 00:24:54,780 And when the final of the four arrives, 710 00:24:54,780 --> 00:24:56,780 25% slower than Tori, 711 00:24:56,780 --> 00:24:58,780 the lane staying myth 712 00:24:59,020 --> 00:25:01,020 looks down and out. 713 00:25:01,020 --> 00:25:03,020 So, where do we stand with the sticker weave dilemma? 714 00:25:03,020 --> 00:25:05,020 Well, with every single test we've done, 715 00:25:05,020 --> 00:25:07,020 the weaver will beat the person 716 00:25:07,020 --> 00:25:09,020 staying in one lane every single time. 717 00:25:09,020 --> 00:25:11,020 In test one, 718 00:25:11,020 --> 00:25:13,020 in traffic that wasn't that heavy, 719 00:25:13,020 --> 00:25:15,020 the lane sticker lost by around 2%. 720 00:25:15,020 --> 00:25:17,020 And in the ultimate test, 721 00:25:17,020 --> 00:25:19,020 all the lane stickers lost by anywhere 722 00:25:19,020 --> 00:25:21,020 from 4% to 25%. 723 00:25:21,020 --> 00:25:23,020 So what does that mean? 724 00:25:23,020 --> 00:25:25,020 Well, the myth that staying in one lane 725 00:25:25,020 --> 00:25:27,020 will get you to your destination 726 00:25:27,260 --> 00:25:29,260 and the same time as weaving is busted. 727 00:25:29,260 --> 00:25:31,260 Weaving will get you there faster, 728 00:25:31,260 --> 00:25:33,260 but just barely. 729 00:25:33,260 --> 00:25:35,260 And it's not that safe. 730 00:25:35,260 --> 00:25:37,260 MUSIC 731 00:25:37,260 --> 00:25:39,260 Next on Mythbusters. 732 00:25:39,260 --> 00:25:41,260 Red Trick, Red Trick. 733 00:25:41,260 --> 00:25:43,260 Our trio of traffic triggers 734 00:25:43,260 --> 00:25:45,260 Escape to LA. 735 00:25:45,260 --> 00:25:47,260 City Dreams! 736 00:25:47,260 --> 00:25:49,260 MUSIC 737 00:25:49,260 --> 00:25:51,260 Please, don't try what you're about to see at home. 738 00:25:51,260 --> 00:25:53,260 We're what you would call experts. 739 00:25:53,260 --> 00:25:55,260 We're what you would call experts. 740 00:25:55,500 --> 00:25:57,500 MUSIC 741 00:25:57,500 --> 00:25:59,500 MUSIC 742 00:25:59,500 --> 00:26:01,500 OK, what's next? 743 00:26:01,500 --> 00:26:03,500 This one is another classic. 744 00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:05,500 The myth is that for journeys less than 400 miles, 745 00:26:05,500 --> 00:26:07,500 like San Francisco to Los Angeles, 746 00:26:07,500 --> 00:26:09,500 that it's actually faster to drive 747 00:26:09,500 --> 00:26:11,500 than it is to fly. 748 00:26:11,500 --> 00:26:13,500 No way. 749 00:26:13,500 --> 00:26:15,500 I can see it. 750 00:26:15,500 --> 00:26:17,500 I mean, you have to get to the airport 751 00:26:17,500 --> 00:26:19,500 an hour and a half ahead of your flight. 752 00:26:19,500 --> 00:26:21,500 Then you have to check your bag, get through security, 753 00:26:21,500 --> 00:26:23,500 and then on the other end, go and rent a car. 754 00:26:23,740 --> 00:26:25,740 And then you can only see how driving could be 755 00:26:25,740 --> 00:26:27,740 faster than flying. 756 00:26:27,740 --> 00:26:29,740 OK, I see a race coming on. 757 00:26:29,740 --> 00:26:31,740 To fly or to drive, 758 00:26:31,740 --> 00:26:33,740 this modern version of hair versus tortoise 759 00:26:33,740 --> 00:26:35,740 proposed by a prestigious NASA director 760 00:26:35,740 --> 00:26:39,740 is that for journeys of less than 400 miles, 761 00:26:39,740 --> 00:26:41,740 driving is surprisingly faster. 762 00:26:41,740 --> 00:26:43,740 But surely the tortoise 763 00:26:43,740 --> 00:26:45,740 can't compete with a 500-mile-an-hour 764 00:26:45,740 --> 00:26:47,740 flying hair. 765 00:26:47,740 --> 00:26:49,740 To find out, it's a pre-dawn showdown. 766 00:26:49,740 --> 00:26:51,740 We're testing the myth 767 00:26:51,980 --> 00:26:53,980 that it's faster to drive than to fly 768 00:26:53,980 --> 00:26:55,980 on a journey that's less than 400 miles. 769 00:26:55,980 --> 00:26:57,980 So we drew straws, 770 00:26:57,980 --> 00:26:59,980 tortoise is going to fly, 771 00:26:59,980 --> 00:27:01,980 grand and I are going to drive. 772 00:27:01,980 --> 00:27:03,980 We're starting San Francisco 7 a.m. 773 00:27:03,980 --> 00:27:05,980 Driving 380 miles 774 00:27:05,980 --> 00:27:07,980 to the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles 775 00:27:07,980 --> 00:27:09,980 in three, two, one, go. 776 00:27:09,980 --> 00:27:11,980 Ah! 777 00:27:11,980 --> 00:27:13,980 You're going to fly? 778 00:27:13,980 --> 00:27:15,980 You should probably give him a head start. 779 00:27:15,980 --> 00:27:17,980 I mean, after all, I am flying. 780 00:27:17,980 --> 00:27:19,980 Tortorise confident because he knows 781 00:27:20,220 --> 00:27:22,220 his ride will be traveling approximately 782 00:27:22,220 --> 00:27:24,220 430 miles-an-hour faster. 783 00:27:24,220 --> 00:27:26,220 A fact that has failed to 784 00:27:26,220 --> 00:27:28,220 dampen team cars' enthusiasm. 785 00:27:28,220 --> 00:27:30,220 Red trip, red trip! 786 00:27:30,220 --> 00:27:32,220 Because road trips are, 787 00:27:32,220 --> 00:27:34,220 well, road trips. 788 00:27:34,220 --> 00:27:36,220 This will be fun! 789 00:27:36,220 --> 00:27:38,220 There's the camaraderie. 790 00:27:38,220 --> 00:27:40,220 If we need to urinate, 791 00:27:40,220 --> 00:27:42,220 should we urinate inside 792 00:27:42,220 --> 00:27:44,220 of container in the car? 793 00:27:44,220 --> 00:27:46,220 And there's the open road 794 00:27:46,220 --> 00:27:48,220 and freedom from waiting around. 795 00:27:48,460 --> 00:27:50,460 Or not. 796 00:27:50,460 --> 00:27:52,460 Totally in the middle of community traffic. 797 00:27:52,460 --> 00:27:54,460 Yeah. 798 00:27:54,460 --> 00:27:56,460 Oh, it's going to bone us! 799 00:27:56,460 --> 00:27:58,460 Meanwhile, on his way to the airport, 800 00:27:58,460 --> 00:28:00,460 Tortorise realizing 801 00:28:00,460 --> 00:28:02,460 it may not be as simple 802 00:28:02,460 --> 00:28:04,460 as his main mode of transport's top speed. 803 00:28:04,460 --> 00:28:06,460 Now, the things that are going to hold me up 804 00:28:06,460 --> 00:28:08,460 are, one, I have to drive to the airport, 805 00:28:08,460 --> 00:28:10,460 park the car. 806 00:28:10,460 --> 00:28:12,460 Parking, I need parking. 807 00:28:12,460 --> 00:28:14,460 Check my bags. 808 00:28:14,460 --> 00:28:16,460 I got to get to the flight two hours before 809 00:28:16,700 --> 00:28:18,700 so I can get through security. 810 00:28:18,700 --> 00:28:20,700 That's going to slow me down. 811 00:28:20,700 --> 00:28:22,700 Now I'm starting to get nervous. 812 00:28:22,700 --> 00:28:24,700 And then on the other side, 813 00:28:24,700 --> 00:28:26,700 I have to go pick up a rent a car, 814 00:28:26,700 --> 00:28:28,700 get my bags, 815 00:28:28,700 --> 00:28:30,700 then drive to the location. 816 00:28:30,700 --> 00:28:32,700 This is going to be a close race. 817 00:28:32,700 --> 00:28:34,700 It's the key to this myth. 818 00:28:34,700 --> 00:28:36,700 Having to get to the airport in time 819 00:28:36,700 --> 00:28:38,700 to go through the time-consuming 820 00:28:38,700 --> 00:28:40,700 process of boarding gives our roadies a chance. 821 00:28:40,700 --> 00:28:42,700 And back on the road, 822 00:28:42,700 --> 00:28:44,700 our four-wheel tortoises are not stuck anymore. 823 00:28:44,940 --> 00:28:46,940 They've hit the highway. 824 00:28:46,940 --> 00:28:48,940 This is for our good people. 825 00:28:48,940 --> 00:28:50,940 However, they do have to stick with the 826 00:28:50,940 --> 00:28:52,940 legal speed limit. 827 00:28:52,940 --> 00:28:54,940 Oh, no, no! 828 00:28:54,940 --> 00:28:56,940 And they are stuck with each other. 829 00:28:56,940 --> 00:28:58,940 It's going to be a long trip. 830 00:28:58,940 --> 00:29:00,940 Do you have any good road trip stories? 831 00:29:00,940 --> 00:29:02,940 Let's see. 832 00:29:02,940 --> 00:29:04,940 Not really. 833 00:29:04,940 --> 00:29:06,940 But they have already covered 70 miles 834 00:29:06,940 --> 00:29:08,940 and Tori... 835 00:29:08,940 --> 00:29:10,940 Thank you. 836 00:29:10,940 --> 00:29:12,940 Having only just checked in, 837 00:29:13,180 --> 00:29:15,180 we have to shut the cameras down 838 00:29:15,180 --> 00:29:17,180 because they won't allow us to film in there. 839 00:29:17,180 --> 00:29:19,180 Besides, I might get script-searched. 840 00:29:19,180 --> 00:29:21,180 There's some benefits to driving. 841 00:29:21,180 --> 00:29:23,180 I mean, I am carrying things 842 00:29:23,180 --> 00:29:25,180 that are over three ounces and in liquid form. 843 00:29:25,180 --> 00:29:27,180 Ha-ha-ha! 844 00:29:27,180 --> 00:29:29,180 All right, so I just made it through security 845 00:29:29,180 --> 00:29:31,180 and actually went pretty smoothly. 846 00:29:31,180 --> 00:29:33,180 Not too many hold-ups, 847 00:29:33,180 --> 00:29:35,180 but this part always takes up time. 848 00:29:35,180 --> 00:29:37,180 Putting yourself back together 849 00:29:37,180 --> 00:29:39,180 before you get on a plane. 850 00:29:39,180 --> 00:29:41,180 All right, let's go catch a plane. 851 00:29:41,420 --> 00:29:43,420 Out on the road, Grant and Kerry 852 00:29:43,420 --> 00:29:45,420 are eating up the miles at a steady 70 miles an hour. 853 00:29:45,420 --> 00:29:47,420 Turned it to 90 miles to go. 854 00:29:47,420 --> 00:29:49,420 I think I just ran over a skunk. 855 00:29:49,420 --> 00:29:51,420 I thought it was all that beef jerky, right? 856 00:29:51,420 --> 00:29:53,420 They may be bored. 857 00:29:53,420 --> 00:29:55,420 99 bottles of beer on the wall. 858 00:29:55,420 --> 00:29:57,420 99 bottles of beer. 859 00:29:57,420 --> 00:29:59,420 But they are always moving. 860 00:29:59,420 --> 00:30:01,420 99 bottles of beer on the wall. 861 00:30:01,420 --> 00:30:03,420 99 bottles of beer. 862 00:30:03,420 --> 00:30:05,420 Unlike Tori, who, after getting through security 863 00:30:05,420 --> 00:30:07,420 in reasonable time, 864 00:30:07,420 --> 00:30:09,420 is still in the middle of the road. 865 00:30:09,660 --> 00:30:11,660 I hope I make it to my gate in time. 866 00:30:11,660 --> 00:30:13,660 Has come up against another air travel bottleneck. 867 00:30:13,660 --> 00:30:15,660 All right, so I made it to my gate. 868 00:30:15,660 --> 00:30:17,660 Now I have another half hour 869 00:30:17,660 --> 00:30:19,660 to wait before we actually board. 870 00:30:19,660 --> 00:30:21,660 Now this is killing me because this is eating up time 871 00:30:21,660 --> 00:30:23,660 where I could actually be traveling. 872 00:30:23,660 --> 00:30:25,660 Kerry and Grant, they are flying on the freeway. 873 00:30:25,660 --> 00:30:27,660 I have to sit here and wait. 874 00:30:27,660 --> 00:30:29,660 And that's the key to the potential 875 00:30:29,660 --> 00:30:31,660 of the flight. 876 00:30:31,660 --> 00:30:33,660 I'm going to go get my car. 877 00:30:33,660 --> 00:30:35,660 I'm going to get my car. 878 00:30:35,660 --> 00:30:37,660 I'm going to get my car. 879 00:30:37,900 --> 00:30:39,900 And that's the key to the potential 880 00:30:39,900 --> 00:30:41,900 plausibility of this myth. 881 00:30:41,900 --> 00:30:43,900 78 bottles of beer on the wall. 882 00:30:43,900 --> 00:30:45,900 78 bottles of beer. 883 00:30:45,900 --> 00:30:47,900 Do the logistics and the waiting around 884 00:30:47,900 --> 00:30:49,900 required for air travel 885 00:30:49,900 --> 00:30:51,900 offset the difference in speed? 886 00:30:51,900 --> 00:30:53,900 Take the window and you're passing around. 887 00:30:53,900 --> 00:30:55,900 Take the window and you're passing around. 888 00:30:55,900 --> 00:30:57,900 With team tortoise 130 miles ahead 889 00:30:57,900 --> 00:30:59,900 but only inching their way down the highway. 890 00:30:59,900 --> 00:31:01,900 With team tortoise 130 miles ahead but only inching their way down the highway. 891 00:31:01,900 --> 00:31:03,900 37 bottles of beer on the wall. 892 00:31:03,900 --> 00:31:05,900 37 bottles of beer on the wall. 893 00:31:06,140 --> 00:31:08,140 The airborne hair. 894 00:31:08,140 --> 00:31:10,140 Thank you. 895 00:31:10,140 --> 00:31:12,140 Is settling in for a relaxing 500 mile an hour sprint. 896 00:31:12,140 --> 00:31:14,140 Hello. 897 00:31:14,140 --> 00:31:16,140 Hello. 898 00:31:16,140 --> 00:31:18,140 You know what, normally I don't like sitting in the middle seat 899 00:31:18,140 --> 00:31:20,140 but today's a different story. 900 00:31:20,140 --> 00:31:22,140 We like having you in the middle. 901 00:31:22,140 --> 00:31:24,140 30 bottles of beer on the wall. 902 00:31:24,140 --> 00:31:26,140 30 bottles of beer. 903 00:31:26,140 --> 00:31:28,140 I'll take one down. 904 00:31:28,140 --> 00:31:30,140 You'll pass it all around. 905 00:31:30,140 --> 00:31:32,140 I wonder where Kerry and Grant are. 906 00:31:32,140 --> 00:31:34,140 Oh look, I think I see them. 907 00:31:34,380 --> 00:31:36,380 Adam and Jeannie are asking an intersection question. 908 00:31:36,380 --> 00:31:38,380 You sneaked me. 909 00:31:38,380 --> 00:31:40,380 It was my turn. 910 00:31:40,380 --> 00:31:42,380 You should have waited for me. 911 00:31:42,380 --> 00:31:44,380 That could cut congestion. 912 00:31:44,380 --> 00:31:46,380 Well there you have it. 913 00:31:46,380 --> 00:31:48,380 The good old fashioned four way stop. 914 00:31:48,380 --> 00:31:50,380 We ran two tests. 915 00:31:50,380 --> 00:31:52,380 We got almost identical numbers of cars to go through it. 916 00:31:52,380 --> 00:31:54,380 And it worked. 917 00:31:54,380 --> 00:31:56,380 It does the job. 918 00:31:56,380 --> 00:31:58,380 We ran two tests. 919 00:31:58,380 --> 00:32:00,380 We got almost identical numbers of cars to go through it. 920 00:32:00,380 --> 00:32:02,380 And it worked. 921 00:32:02,620 --> 00:32:04,620 It does the job. There's no drama. 922 00:32:04,620 --> 00:32:06,620 Now however, we want to see if there's any substance to the myth 923 00:32:06,620 --> 00:32:08,620 that the roundabout is actually a more efficient way 924 00:32:08,620 --> 00:32:10,620 of getting cars through an intersection. 925 00:32:10,620 --> 00:32:12,620 This was our previous test. 926 00:32:12,620 --> 00:32:14,620 This is our current test. 927 00:32:14,620 --> 00:32:16,620 The roundabout. 928 00:32:16,620 --> 00:32:18,620 You might know it from Europe. 929 00:32:18,620 --> 00:32:20,620 With the circular setup set up, 930 00:32:20,620 --> 00:32:22,620 the volunteers are wheeled in. 931 00:32:22,620 --> 00:32:24,620 And Adam, wearing a silly hat on a segue, 932 00:32:24,620 --> 00:32:26,620 takes the time to read your mind. 933 00:32:26,620 --> 00:32:28,620 I'm going to go ahead and get it. 934 00:32:28,620 --> 00:32:30,620 I'm going to go ahead and get it. 935 00:32:30,860 --> 00:32:32,860 The roundabout takes the time to read your mind. 936 00:32:32,860 --> 00:32:34,860 I know what you're thinking. 937 00:32:34,860 --> 00:32:36,860 You're thinking, wait a minute, Mythbusters. 938 00:32:36,860 --> 00:32:38,860 You're volunteers. 939 00:32:38,860 --> 00:32:40,860 Your test subjects are Americans. 940 00:32:40,860 --> 00:32:42,860 And Americans don't regularly experience and drive on roundabouts. 941 00:32:42,860 --> 00:32:44,860 Well, you're right. 942 00:32:44,860 --> 00:32:46,860 But we've also already thought of that. 943 00:32:46,860 --> 00:32:48,860 Commencing practice session now. 944 00:32:48,860 --> 00:32:50,860 Before we commence with our experiment, 945 00:32:50,860 --> 00:32:52,860 we're going to give our test subjects a good half hour 946 00:32:52,860 --> 00:32:54,860 to get used to the roundabout 947 00:32:54,860 --> 00:32:56,860 and circulate on our course. 948 00:32:56,860 --> 00:32:58,860 Well, I think they're doing great. 949 00:32:59,100 --> 00:33:01,100 We don't want their lack of experience to skew our results, 950 00:33:01,100 --> 00:33:03,100 so we're going to give them that experience 951 00:33:03,100 --> 00:33:05,100 right here, right now. 952 00:33:05,100 --> 00:33:07,100 With the drivers up to speed and a spin, 953 00:33:07,100 --> 00:33:09,100 here's how the actual test is going to work. 954 00:33:09,100 --> 00:33:11,100 Because of the way the roundabout is configured, 955 00:33:11,100 --> 00:33:13,100 it's harder for one person to keep track 956 00:33:13,100 --> 00:33:15,100 of how many people are passing through it. 957 00:33:15,100 --> 00:33:17,100 So for this test, 958 00:33:17,100 --> 00:33:19,100 we will have four people counting off 959 00:33:19,100 --> 00:33:21,100 placed strategically in each of the X's, 960 00:33:21,100 --> 00:33:23,100 clicking off one number every time a car leaves the roundabout. 961 00:33:23,100 --> 00:33:25,100 And now, we're going to start the experiment. 962 00:33:25,100 --> 00:33:27,100 We're going to start with the first roundabout. 963 00:33:27,340 --> 00:33:29,340 And just like last time, 964 00:33:29,340 --> 00:33:31,340 I'll be up in the lift monitoring everything that's going on 965 00:33:31,340 --> 00:33:33,340 and running the timer. 966 00:33:33,340 --> 00:33:35,340 Yeah, it's time. 967 00:33:35,340 --> 00:33:37,340 Whoo! 968 00:33:37,340 --> 00:33:39,340 A slightly over-excited Adam... 969 00:33:39,340 --> 00:33:41,340 Let's drive! 970 00:33:41,340 --> 00:33:43,340 Whoo! 971 00:33:43,340 --> 00:33:45,340 Test and traffic! 972 00:33:45,340 --> 00:33:47,340 ...leads his car-driving cohorts 973 00:33:47,340 --> 00:33:49,340 around the roundabout for the two 15-minute sessions. 974 00:33:49,340 --> 00:33:51,340 Ha-ha-ha! 975 00:33:51,340 --> 00:33:53,340 Yeah, baby! 976 00:33:53,340 --> 00:33:55,340 The human-powered randomizers 977 00:33:55,580 --> 00:33:57,580 randomly direct the drivers through the intersection. 978 00:33:57,580 --> 00:33:59,580 Every time I approach, it's like an adventure. 979 00:33:59,580 --> 00:34:01,580 Yeah, here we go, another radiant turn! 980 00:34:01,580 --> 00:34:03,580 And while the counters count, 981 00:34:03,580 --> 00:34:05,580 I love the roundabout. 982 00:34:05,580 --> 00:34:07,580 Jamie observes from above. 983 00:34:07,580 --> 00:34:09,580 See, at any given time, 984 00:34:09,580 --> 00:34:11,580 there's like three, four, 985 00:34:11,580 --> 00:34:13,580 sometimes five or six cars 986 00:34:13,580 --> 00:34:15,580 in the intersection. 987 00:34:15,580 --> 00:34:17,580 Whether that adds up to a final count that's higher, 988 00:34:17,580 --> 00:34:19,580 I don't know yet. 989 00:34:19,580 --> 00:34:21,580 It's an observation that could hold the key 990 00:34:21,580 --> 00:34:23,580 to the final tally. 991 00:34:23,820 --> 00:34:25,820 I think that this test is moving quite efficiently. 992 00:34:25,820 --> 00:34:27,820 By allowing more than one car 993 00:34:27,820 --> 00:34:29,820 through the intersection at a time... 994 00:34:29,820 --> 00:34:31,820 It is like a ballet! 995 00:34:31,820 --> 00:34:33,820 ...the overlap could result 996 00:34:33,820 --> 00:34:35,820 in a considerably higher count. 997 00:34:35,820 --> 00:34:37,820 Adam certainly seems to think so. 998 00:34:37,820 --> 00:34:39,820 From a driving perspective, 999 00:34:39,820 --> 00:34:41,820 this is dreamy. 1000 00:34:41,820 --> 00:34:43,820 To find out if he's right, the siren sounds. 1001 00:34:43,820 --> 00:34:45,820 Whoo! 1002 00:34:45,820 --> 00:34:47,820 And it's time to crunch the crucial numbers. 1003 00:34:47,820 --> 00:34:49,820 Whoo! 1004 00:34:49,820 --> 00:34:51,820 Yes, the results are finally in. 1005 00:34:52,060 --> 00:34:54,060 At the four-way stop, 1006 00:34:54,060 --> 00:34:56,060 over a period of time of exactly 15 minutes, 1007 00:34:56,060 --> 00:34:58,060 we counted an average number of... 1008 00:34:58,060 --> 00:35:00,060 385 cars. 1009 00:35:00,060 --> 00:35:02,060 Mmm! 1010 00:35:02,060 --> 00:35:04,060 And the roundabout, on the other hand, 1011 00:35:04,060 --> 00:35:06,060 allowed a whopping 1012 00:35:06,060 --> 00:35:08,060 460 cars to pass through it. 1013 00:35:08,060 --> 00:35:10,060 That's an improvement of almost 20%. 1014 00:35:10,060 --> 00:35:12,060 I'm calling it. 1015 00:35:12,060 --> 00:35:14,060 I'm saying the roundabout wins 1016 00:35:14,060 --> 00:35:16,060 and that this myth is confirmed. 1017 00:35:16,060 --> 00:35:18,060 The roundabout is a more efficient way 1018 00:35:18,060 --> 00:35:20,060 to move cars through an intersection. 1019 00:35:20,300 --> 00:35:22,300 Totally. Confirmed. 1020 00:35:22,300 --> 00:35:24,300 Time to adopt America. 1021 00:35:24,300 --> 00:35:26,300 MUSIC 1022 00:35:26,300 --> 00:35:28,300 Coming up on Mythbusters... 1023 00:35:28,300 --> 00:35:30,300 There might be a chance we beat him. 1024 00:35:30,300 --> 00:35:32,300 Who will win the freeway fable? 1025 00:35:32,300 --> 00:35:34,300 Get out! Get out! Get out! 1026 00:35:34,300 --> 00:35:36,300 MUSIC 1027 00:35:40,300 --> 00:35:42,300 I think Tori's probably at the gate by now. 1028 00:35:42,300 --> 00:35:44,300 Headphones on, listening to music. 1029 00:35:44,300 --> 00:35:46,300 He's probably drinking with the pilot. 1030 00:35:46,300 --> 00:35:48,300 Dude! Ha ha ha ha! 1031 00:35:48,540 --> 00:35:50,540 We're from the valley. 1032 00:35:50,540 --> 00:35:52,540 So you guys are like original valley girls? 1033 00:35:52,540 --> 00:35:54,540 Yes. Like totally. 1034 00:35:54,540 --> 00:35:56,540 This is a finely tuned vegetarian machine. 1035 00:35:56,540 --> 00:35:58,540 If you put junk food into this machine... 1036 00:35:58,540 --> 00:36:00,540 Is it hot in here? 1037 00:36:00,540 --> 00:36:02,540 It is hot. 1038 00:36:02,540 --> 00:36:04,540 Turn on mine too while you're at it. 1039 00:36:04,540 --> 00:36:06,540 Ha ha ha ha! 1040 00:36:06,540 --> 00:36:08,540 Good thing we got a convertible. 1041 00:36:08,540 --> 00:36:10,540 Ha ha ha ha ha! 1042 00:36:10,540 --> 00:36:12,540 MUSIC 1043 00:36:12,780 --> 00:36:14,780 Tori Grant and Carrie. 1044 00:36:14,780 --> 00:36:16,780 185 miles to Los Angeles. 1045 00:36:16,780 --> 00:36:18,780 A racing 380 miles for science. 1046 00:36:18,780 --> 00:36:20,780 City dreams! 1047 00:36:20,780 --> 00:36:22,780 And while Team Car is only halfway to LA... 1048 00:36:22,780 --> 00:36:24,780 Oh! 1049 00:36:24,780 --> 00:36:26,780 Cheers! 1050 00:36:26,780 --> 00:36:28,780 Jet-setter Tori's taken off and sitting pretty. 1051 00:36:28,780 --> 00:36:30,780 We're trying to find out which is faster. 1052 00:36:30,780 --> 00:36:32,780 Is it faster to drive to LA or fly to LA? 1053 00:36:32,780 --> 00:36:34,780 To get to LA. 1054 00:36:34,780 --> 00:36:36,780 To get to LA. 1055 00:36:36,780 --> 00:36:38,780 To get to LA. 1056 00:36:38,780 --> 00:36:40,780 To get to LA. 1057 00:36:40,780 --> 00:36:42,780 To drive to LA or fly to LA? 1058 00:36:42,780 --> 00:36:44,780 Tori, should be flying over now. 1059 00:36:44,780 --> 00:36:46,780 Because a lot of people think 1060 00:36:46,780 --> 00:36:48,780 checking your bags, going through security, 1061 00:36:48,780 --> 00:36:50,780 getting your rent a car, that it's actually 1062 00:36:50,780 --> 00:36:52,780 faster if you drive to LA than it is to fly. 1063 00:36:52,780 --> 00:36:54,780 And with Tori leaving 1064 00:36:54,780 --> 00:36:56,780 his earthbound competition 1065 00:36:56,780 --> 00:36:58,780 in his contrail... 1066 00:36:58,780 --> 00:37:00,780 100 miles to Los Angeles. 1067 00:37:00,780 --> 00:37:02,780 Still? 1068 00:37:02,780 --> 00:37:04,780 He's clearly more comfortable 1069 00:37:04,780 --> 00:37:06,780 than his car bound competition. 1070 00:37:06,780 --> 00:37:08,780 Oh, no! 1071 00:37:08,780 --> 00:37:10,780 I'm just tired. I'm tired. 1072 00:37:10,780 --> 00:37:12,780 I gotta... 1073 00:37:12,780 --> 00:37:14,780 With our road warriors weary, 1074 00:37:14,780 --> 00:37:16,780 cramped and cranky... 1075 00:37:16,780 --> 00:37:18,780 Stop your faking. 1076 00:37:18,780 --> 00:37:20,780 Tori's short 90-minute flight 1077 00:37:20,780 --> 00:37:22,780 has already complete. 1078 00:37:22,780 --> 00:37:24,780 But although he's well in the lead, 1079 00:37:24,780 --> 00:37:26,780 doubts are creeping in. 1080 00:37:26,780 --> 00:37:28,780 I just landed in the Burbank airport 1081 00:37:28,780 --> 00:37:30,780 and we are now four hours into this experiment 1082 00:37:30,780 --> 00:37:32,780 and I am just now getting into LA. 1083 00:37:32,780 --> 00:37:34,780 But I am a long ways away from the location. 1084 00:37:34,780 --> 00:37:36,780 I still need to get my bag. 1085 00:37:36,780 --> 00:37:38,780 Now this is definitely going to eat into my time. 1086 00:37:38,780 --> 00:37:40,780 I need to get my rent a car 1087 00:37:40,780 --> 00:37:42,780 and then I have another 40-minute drive 1088 00:37:42,780 --> 00:37:44,780 till I get to the destination. 1089 00:37:44,780 --> 00:37:46,780 Carrie and Grant might have a chance of beating me. 1090 00:37:46,780 --> 00:37:48,780 All right, let's go. 1091 00:37:48,780 --> 00:37:50,780 And speaking of going... 1092 00:37:50,780 --> 00:37:52,780 I got a piece so bad! 1093 00:37:52,780 --> 00:37:54,780 Just hang on, just a little bit more. 1094 00:37:54,780 --> 00:37:56,780 Team car requires relief, 1095 00:37:56,780 --> 00:37:58,780 refreshments and refuel. 1096 00:37:58,780 --> 00:38:00,780 Ready, set... 1097 00:38:00,780 --> 00:38:02,780 Go! 1098 00:38:02,780 --> 00:38:04,780 Ready, set... 1099 00:38:04,780 --> 00:38:06,780 Go! 1100 00:38:06,780 --> 00:38:08,780 Having to stop is a major disadvantage. 1101 00:38:08,780 --> 00:38:10,780 Oh! 1102 00:38:10,780 --> 00:38:12,780 Oh, God! 1103 00:38:12,780 --> 00:38:14,780 Feel better? 1104 00:38:14,780 --> 00:38:16,780 Pew! 1105 00:38:16,780 --> 00:38:18,780 But it's worth pointing out 1106 00:38:18,780 --> 00:38:20,780 they'll complete the journey 1107 00:38:20,780 --> 00:38:22,780 on 80 bucks of gas and drive-thru. 1108 00:38:22,780 --> 00:38:24,780 Mmm! 1109 00:38:24,780 --> 00:38:26,780 And Tori's flight was more than 1110 00:38:26,780 --> 00:38:28,780 twice as expensive, 1111 00:38:28,780 --> 00:38:30,780 not to mention the cost of car rental. 1112 00:38:30,780 --> 00:38:32,780 Right now I'm waiting for my shuttle 1113 00:38:32,780 --> 00:38:34,780 to pick me up so I can go over and get my rent a car. 1114 00:38:34,780 --> 00:38:36,780 Again, burning time. 1115 00:38:36,780 --> 00:38:38,780 Time in which Carrie and Grant 1116 00:38:38,780 --> 00:38:40,780 grind ever closer. 1117 00:38:40,780 --> 00:38:42,780 And with Tori's time delays 1118 00:38:42,780 --> 00:38:44,780 continuing to add up... 1119 00:38:44,780 --> 00:38:46,780 Team Tordis is back in the race. 1120 00:38:46,780 --> 00:38:48,780 That's perfect, therefore. 1121 00:38:48,780 --> 00:38:50,780 I have my rent a car. 1122 00:38:50,780 --> 00:38:52,780 Now it's off to the final destination. 1123 00:38:52,780 --> 00:38:54,780 There might be a chance we beat him. 1124 00:38:54,780 --> 00:38:56,780 Now it's only 17 miles away, 1125 00:38:56,780 --> 00:38:58,780 but this is LA. 1126 00:38:58,780 --> 00:39:00,780 If there's traffic, this could be 1127 00:39:00,780 --> 00:39:02,780 the longest leg of the trip. 1128 00:39:02,780 --> 00:39:04,780 Yep, after five hours, it's down to the wire 1129 00:39:04,780 --> 00:39:06,780 and the lottery of LA's freeways. 1130 00:39:06,780 --> 00:39:08,780 Why are we going so slow? 1131 00:39:08,780 --> 00:39:10,780 There's an accident. 1132 00:39:10,780 --> 00:39:12,780 No! 1133 00:39:12,780 --> 00:39:14,780 Oh, we're doing so well! 1134 00:39:14,780 --> 00:39:16,780 Oh, shut up! 1135 00:39:16,780 --> 00:39:18,780 No! 1136 00:39:18,780 --> 00:39:20,780 And with both teams caught in the mess of the metropolis, 1137 00:39:20,780 --> 00:39:22,780 the nearest minutes matter. 1138 00:39:22,780 --> 00:39:24,780 Right. 1139 00:39:24,780 --> 00:39:26,780 Back in the game, back in the game. 1140 00:39:26,780 --> 00:39:28,780 All right, here's my exit. 1141 00:39:28,780 --> 00:39:30,780 The destination will be on your left. 1142 00:39:30,780 --> 00:39:32,780 I don't see any sign of Carrie and Grant. 1143 00:39:32,780 --> 00:39:34,780 All right, all right. Turn right in here. 1144 00:39:34,780 --> 00:39:36,780 Okay. All right, all right. 1145 00:39:36,780 --> 00:39:38,780 That's the steps. 1146 00:39:38,780 --> 00:39:40,780 I don't see him. I don't see him. 1147 00:39:40,780 --> 00:39:42,780 I think we beat him. 1148 00:39:42,780 --> 00:39:44,780 Get out, get out, get out! 1149 00:39:44,780 --> 00:39:46,780 Ha ha ha ha! 1150 00:39:46,780 --> 00:39:48,780 Come on! 1151 00:39:48,780 --> 00:39:50,780 No way! That's amazing! 1152 00:39:50,780 --> 00:39:52,780 What's our time? 1153 00:39:52,780 --> 00:39:54,780 5.23. 1154 00:39:54,780 --> 00:39:56,780 Yes, we beat him! 1155 00:39:56,780 --> 00:39:58,780 Ha ha ha ha! 1156 00:39:58,780 --> 00:40:00,780 It's awesome! 1157 00:40:00,780 --> 00:40:02,780 Hey, what took you guys so long? Did you guys hit traffic? 1158 00:40:02,780 --> 00:40:04,780 Shut up! 1159 00:40:04,780 --> 00:40:06,780 What did you get here? 1160 00:40:06,780 --> 00:40:08,780 Took me 5 hours and 15 minutes. 1161 00:40:08,780 --> 00:40:10,780 It's like 7 minutes fast. 1162 00:40:10,780 --> 00:40:12,780 You thought that's crazy. 1163 00:40:12,780 --> 00:40:14,780 Dude, if we hadn't stopped for you to pee, we could have made it. 1164 00:40:14,780 --> 00:40:16,780 You picked a more fuel efficient car, so we'd have to stop for gas. 1165 00:40:16,780 --> 00:40:18,780 Wow, sounds like a real relaxing trip. 1166 00:40:18,780 --> 00:40:20,780 Ha ha ha! 1167 00:40:20,780 --> 00:40:22,780 Oh, what is that smell? 1168 00:40:22,780 --> 00:40:24,780 Oh, God! 1169 00:40:24,780 --> 00:40:28,780 But yeah, when it comes to enjoying the journey, there's a clear winner. 1170 00:40:28,780 --> 00:40:30,780 But as for the race itself... 1171 00:40:30,780 --> 00:40:36,780 The myth that if you have a journey under 400 miles, it's actually faster to drive than to fly is plausible. 1172 00:40:36,780 --> 00:40:42,780 We left at the same time this morning from San Francisco and arrived within 10 minutes of each other down in LA. 1173 00:40:42,780 --> 00:40:44,780 Now that's 380 miles. 1174 00:40:44,780 --> 00:40:50,780 If anything had been slightly different, one of us could have gotten here faster than the other. 1175 00:40:50,780 --> 00:40:52,780 So, walking away plausible.