Speeding isn’t just about breaking the speed limit—it’s about the choices we make behind the wheel every day. In this episode of Mastering the Commute, we dive into the real reasons people speed, from frustration with slower drivers to the illusion of an “open road.” But more importantly, we explore the overlooked dangers of transition roads—the curved ramps that connect freeways, where accidents happen more often than you might think.

As a former airborne traffic reporter, I’ve seen firsthand how these roads create some of the worst backups, not from multi-car pileups, but from single-vehicle spinouts and sudden slowdowns. So today, we’re asking:

🚗 Why do we ignore warning signs, even when they’re for our own protection?

🚗 How does speeding actually create more traffic?

🚗 And what small changes can you make to drive smarter and safer?

You’ll also hear:

✔️ The truth behind those yellow speed signs on freeway ramps—and why they’re not enforceable.

✔️ How social driving habits—racing to beat a red light, retaliatory speeding—make traffic worse.

✔️ The science of speed and congestion, backed by experts like Dr. Rick August and William Beaty.

✔️ Why transition roads (not adding more freeway lanes) might be the only real solution to fixing traffic.

And here’s a question for you: What’s your biggest frustration when it comes to speeding? Do slow drivers in the fast lane drive you crazy? Do you speed up when someone is tailgating you? Head to DriveSmarterNow.com and let me know!

🔗 Helpful Resources:

•Google Maps Traffic Guide: Google Maps Help

•Apple Maps Traffic Info: Apple Maps Help

•Waze Traffic Reports: Waze Help

Next Episode Teaser:

If speeding is all about going too fast, next time, we’re slowing things down—literally. In Episode 5, we’ll talk about red lights, deceleration habits, and how stopping too fast (or too late) affects traffic just as much as speeding. Don’t miss it!

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review Mastering the Commute wherever you listen to podcasts! 🚦

#MasteringTheCommute #SmartDriving #TrafficTips

Send us a text

Support the show

🚦 New Episodes Every Wednesday at 8 AM ET!

Thanks for tuning in to Mastering the Commute!
Ready to take your driving to the next level? Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode, dropping every Wednesday morning at 8 AM ET.

🎧 Join me each week as we tackle topics like merging mastery, the truth about phantom jams, and real-world strategies for safer, stress-free driving.

🔗 Don’t forget to test your driving skills with the free Drive Smart Quiz and see how you stack up against the average commuter!

🚗 Let’s rethink the way we drive—together.

Episode 3 - Freeway Personalities - Why Some Freeways Jam Up

🚗 Think traffic is unpredictable? Think again. Every freeway has a personality—a pattern of congestion, peak-hour slowdowns, and bottlenecks that seem to happen like clockwork. If you’ve ever wondered why the same stretch of road always slows down at the same time every day, this episode is for you.

I’m Randy Keith, former LA traffic reporter and smart driving advocate, and in today’s episode of Mastering the Commute, we’re diving deep into freeway personalities—the predictable patterns that shape your daily drive.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✅ Why certain freeways back up at the same spots every day.

✅ The science behind “bottleneck locations” and what causes phantom jams.

✅ How driver behavior contributes to the stop-and-go effect (and what you can do to reduce it).

✅ The best strategies for navigating freeways smarter—whether you’re dealing with an unavoidable choke point or figuring out the fastest route.

🎧 LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: Drivesmarternow.com

🚦 Helpful Navigation Tools:

Stay ahead of the traffic by using these real-time mapping tools:

📍 Google Maps Traffic Updates – Click Here
**Here's a sample route. calculated using the "Arrive by" option - Click HERE

📍 Apple Maps Live Traffic – Click Here

📍 Waze Community Reports – Click Here

🔗 Want to know how your driving habits compare to the average commuter? Take my free Smart Driving Quiz at DriveSmartQuiz.com.

Why This Matters

Traffic congestion isn’t just about volume—it’s about patterns. By understanding freeway personalities, you can predict slowdowns before they happen, plan alternate routes, and drive smarter. This episode will help you take control of your commute, minimize stress, and even contribute to better traffic flow.

💬 Have a freeway that always seems to jam at the same spot? Tell me about it! Drop a comment below or tag me on social media.

🚘 Mastering the Commute is here to make every drive smarter, safer, and smoother. Join the movement today!

Send us a text

Support the show

🚦 New Episodes Every Wednesday at 8 AM ET!

Thanks for tuning in to Mastering the Commute!
Ready to take your driving to the next level? Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode, dropping every Wednesday morning at 8 AM ET.

🎧 Join me each week as we tackle topics like merging mastery, the truth about phantom jams, and real-world strategies for safer, stress-free driving.

🔗 Don’t forget to test your driving skills with the free Drive Smart Quiz and see how you stack up against the average commuter!

🚗 Let’s rethink the way we drive—together.

Episode 2: How Social Driving Creates Phantom Jams

Most of us think traffic is caused by accidents, construction, or sheer volume. But what if the real culprit is something we do every day without even realizing it? In this episode of Mastering the Commute, host Randy Keith dives into the concept of social driving—the subtle ways our habits and reactions behind the wheel create unnecessary congestion.

Randy starts with a personal story about a car carrier, a family debate, and how our perceptions of risk shape the way we drive. Then, he unpacks the research behind phantom jams, exploring how behaviors like speeding up, braking abruptly, or blocking someone from merging can ripple through traffic miles behind us.

You’ll learn:

•Why social driving is more impactful than you might think.

•How small changes in your driving habits can reduce jams for everyone.

•What the science says about staying calm and maintaining a steady flow.

This episode is an eye-opener for anyone who’s ever been stuck in stop-and-go traffic and wondered, “Why is this even happening?”

Links as promised in this episode:

Atlanta TV station story on phantom Jams
Phantom Jam Experiment

Questions/Feedback?
Email me at freewaytrafficexpert@gmail.com

🎧 Tune in now to Mastering the Commute and discover how you can drive smarter, reduce stress, and make the road a better place for everyone.

📢 Don’t miss next week’s episode, where we’ll explore Freeway Personalities and why some highways are always jammed at the same spots!

Send us a text

Support the show

🚦 New Episodes Every Wednesday at 8 AM ET!

Thanks for tuning in to Mastering the Commute!
Ready to take your driving to the next level? Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode, dropping every Wednesday morning at 8 AM ET.

🎧 Join me each week as we tackle topics like merging mastery, the truth about phantom jams, and real-world strategies for safer, stress-free driving.

🔗 Don’t forget to test your driving skills with the free Drive Smart Quiz and see how you stack up against the average commuter!

🚗 Let’s rethink the way we drive—together.