Hamptons Traffic Has Nothing on Russia

Traffic in the Hamptons has to rank among the worst in the world, but it’s definitely not THE worst. So, next time you’re banging your head against the steering wheel while in a summer or holiday standstill by Lobster Inn or Pier One in Southampton, consider the gridlock in Russia over the weekend.

CNN reported that the M-10 highway, the main road between Moscow and St. Petersburg (the county’s most populated cities), had near deadlocked traffic all weekend, stretching 125 miles—that’s longer than the entire trip between Manhattan and the East End.

Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news reported that heavy snow on Friday was in part responsible for the backup of trucks and cars, which sat basically motionless for days.

Efforts to clear the roads reduced tie-ups to 34-mile stretches and the jam shrunk by about three-quarters of a mile every hour by Sunday. Eventually one lane in each direction of the M-10 was cleared of snow and vehicles picked up the pace to about 3-6 miles per hour.

Social media revealed that cafes along the road gouged prices to take advantage of the marooned drivers, and gas stations ran out of fuel. The CNN report also said an inflatable tent popped up on the roadside with tables packed with people eating and drinking. Russia’s Emergency Ministry even made psychological support available for those struggling to endure the days stuck in traffic.