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Common collocations with traffic in American Collocation

traffic noun uncountable

US /ˈtræfɪk/

coming towards you

oncoming

I feel like a rabbit caught in the headlights of oncoming traffic.

when there is a lot of traffic

busy
dense
heavy
horrendous

The traffic was horrendous.

when there is not much traffic

light

Local diversions, suitable for light traffic, will also be set up.

at the busiest time of the day

peak
rush-hour

Rush-hour traffic might flow better if traffic lights were set at random.

slow

slow
slow-moving

The majority of these accidents occur when motorbikes collide with stationary or slow-moving traffic.

fast

fast-moving
speeding

People are fed up with speeding traffic on their roads.

not moving

congested
gridlocked
stationary

I was faced with around 2 miles of almost stationary traffic!

passing through a place

through

All through traffic would be directed onto a network of arterial roads.

direct traffic somewhere

direct
rout

At present traffic was directed away from the site away from, and not through, the village.

send traffic in a different direction

divert
redirect
reroute

For three hours there was chaos, with traffic diverted.

slow or control traffic

calm
control
regulate
slow (down)

Can anything be done to slow the traffic in this area of the town?

block or stop traffic

block
disrupt
halt
obstruct
stop

Traffic was severely disrupted throughout the area as lakes formed across main roads.

increase traffic

attract
generate
increase
induce

All the evidence shows that building more roads generates more traffic.

reduce traffic

curb
cut
discourage
reduce
restrict

They need a relief road to reduce traffic through the narrow country roads.

be in traffic

be in
be stuck in

No one enjoys being stuck in traffic.

drive through traffic

dodge
drive through
weave through

Cyclists dash through intersections, dodging traffic.

move in a direction

head for
travel

Priority is given to traffic travelling from the south.

move continuously

flow
keep moving

Police have to try and keep traffic flowing at road traffic accidents.

slow down or stop

slow (down)
stop

Traffic slowed down considerably whilst drivers gawped at this unusual sight.

not move

queue

Buses were delayed by traffic queuing at the traffic lights.

move quickly or noisily

roar
rumble
speed
thunder
whiz

The traffic thunders down the Cold Ash Hill and can barely stop at the roundabout.

move slowly

crawl

The snow fell during the day while traffic was crawling along the roads.

obstruct a place

choke something
clog something

They believe congestion charging offers a way forward for cities choked by traffic.