China’s 100-km ‘Mother Of All Traffic Jam’ Lasted For 10 Days, Got 10,000 Cars Stuck

China National Highway 110’s traffic jam was a recurring traffic jam that began to form on 13 August 2010.

The traffic jam slowed thousands of vehicles for more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) and lasted for 10 days.

This hold up was caused by trucks carrying supplies into Beijing for road work that was intended to help ease congestion.

Drivers were able to move their vehicles by only 1 km (0.6 mil) per day. Some drivers were stuck for five days.

Food vendors sold noodles and water for four and ten times their usual prices to hungry and thirsty drivers.

Pictures used for description

The China National Highway 110‘s mother of all traffic jams, which began to form on 13 August 2010, is regarded by some media as the longest-ever traffic jam in world history.

This all-time hold up which lasted for 10 days wasn’t caused by road closure or natural disaster, but due to heavy trucks carrying construction supplies into Beijing for road work that was intended to help ease congestion.

According to local media news, more than 10,000 vehicles and 100,000 travellers were stuck in the massive traffic jam that stretched 62 miles (100 km) between Hebei and Inner Mongolia.

The huge traffic jam along the Beijing-Tibet Expressway, ironically caused by the road work on the highway, went from the original 50 lane traffic to 20, and later to a terrifying 4 lane traffic.

• See Also : LASTMA : Motorists To Pay Obstruction Fine And Towing Fee For Broken Down Vehicles

Pictures used for description

Many motorists were able to move their vehicles at an insane speed of up to 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) per day, with some being reportedly stuck in the traffic jam for five days.

Food vendors who came to the aid of hungry and thirsty drivers reportedly sold instant noodles and water for four and ten times their usual prices respectively.

Surprisingly, a similar incident which happened 20 years earlier in France on February 16, 1980 is regarded as the biggest traffic jam ever by officials of Guinness World of Record.

The incredible gridlock, which stretched for around 109 miles (175 km), was caused by poor weather and the huge number of cars on the French Autoroute.

• See Also : No More Chasing After Fleeing Motorists, LASTMA Deploys TMS Handheld Devices To Capture Offenders