I imagine there are heavily trafficked roads in GB but come here and see some real mess. It was shown the traffic was a major factor in the infamous LA smog problem. Maybe it will help understand.

@JackPedigo I understand driving in very congested traffic motorway lanes for long periods…not just on Britain’s roads…the M6 and the M25 for instance, but driving on Europe’s vast maze of autobahns and on Asia’s indisciplined heavily trafficked roads. I understand the rhythms needed to keep it flowing and how it takes only a moment’s lack of concentration to come a cropper. It’s the part about it being “the only secular communication” that I find strange.

@Marionville I guess she sees this from a different perspective. This is the area she lived and probably often got caught in traffic. I do agree the concentration can be absolute with no room for other thoughts.
Hope you don't mind a story I experienced on LA's freeway (I-5). My late partners brother and his family were visiting and they just had to go to LA as that's the city with the largest Iranian population. We rented a mini van and were headed out of town. Of course tons of traffic. Then a cop passed us on the left and then moved in front of us. I thought I had done something wrong. Then he moved over again. Of course people started watching him and slowing down. He kept changing lanes and as he did so the 4 lanes of traffic started backing off until there was a clear line between us and the cars in front. At one point he actually started going from the far right land to the left with his lights going. All the while slowing down. Then he really got everyone's attention. As soon as we emerged from under a bridge he stopped in the middle of the road and so did all the traffic. Right at that spot a van had, had problems and was parked in the left hand shoulder. There was no way the occupants or the vehicle could get over to the waiting tow truck on the right. My in-laws looked at each other in amazement and I can imagine the other drivers did as well. That cop must have had real fun in doing this maneuver. I'll bet there was some training in how to control traffic. I'll also bet it happens all the time. When one gets stalled in a middle lane or far lane there could be real problems. That's why I try to stay in the slow lane.