If the job of a writer is to write based on his or her personal experiences, the NJ Turnpike is probably a good place to start - or stop if we are talking about the north bound lanes between exit 8 and exit 9.

For those who have never had the privilege it is the location where the three lane highway divides into three lanes for cars only, and two lanes for trucks and any other vehicle. The issue is that this prong in the road (there are no turns here so I refuse to call it a fork) seems to confuse people and the back up for this expansion is often more than three miles.   

Think about this, people are dumber than water. Water can find the best path and just go with the flow.  On the south bound side, the divided highway merges and the drivers act like water. A congestion into the funnel, but we get through it eventually- just like water. However, when water finds the path of least resistance open, it flows. On the north bound side we do not flow. Evidently people can not figure out which lane is theirs and start the tow bar effect as they put on the breaks and try to figure out which road to take. Robert Frost would find the road less travelled to be the most direct one, though I suspect Ogden Nash should be the author of this Ode to these Lane Changers.

The question I asked a friend was, how could M2M help me with these laggards? Intelligent Transport Systems are often trying to tackle big projects, but I am wondering if this is like a smart meter. Will people not surrender control as they speed toward the Boolean decision of left or right?

The NJ Turnpike Authority has lots of signs warning that a divided highway is ahead. Perhaps the people think of that as a threat rather than an opportunity?

If my vehicle were communicating with the highway would I accept the advice of GPS and stay in my lane or prepare to choose the path of least resistance?

If the highway were to have digital signs that gave me conditions ahead would my selection of roadway be solved by choosing in advance, or is the reason we have this road block because we started thinking in advance?

What if they offered merge back lanes that allowed you to change your mind between exits 9 and 10? Would that stop the insanity?

What if we just place a state trooper looking like he was clocking everyone?

I am not sure what would solve the problem. Over riding human intelligence is always a concern. Surrendering control is easily understood and most of us do it in prayer, but the reality is we all have a tendency to want to “help.”

In Arkansas on Interstate 40, a few years back, I was heading toward a construction zone with a single lane. For about 10 miles, I was warned by digital signs to converge into one lane and maintain speed. For 10 miles I jockeyed for position but when I got to the single lane I maintained speed. Pretty amazing. 

And thus I have hope.