How does traffic incident-related congestion impact fuel consumption?

Traffic incident-related congestion significantly increases fuel consumption. When vehicles are stuck in traffic, they often experience stop-and-go conditions, which lead to inefficient fuel usage. Idling and frequent acceleration, as vehicles deal with the congestion, cause engines to consume more fuel than they would under normal driving conditions. This inefficiency occurs because an engine operates less efficiently at lower speeds and during frequent stops compared to maintaining a steady speed on free-flowing roads.

Moreover, the additional time spent in congestion can lead to longer trips, further exacerbating fuel consumption as the engine runs longer than necessary while sitting still or moving at a slower pace. Therefore, it is vital that effective traffic incident management strategies are in place to minimize congestion and, consequently, its negative impact on fuel consumption and emissions.