DC-area readers at least should be interested in this New Scientist article about a new traffic flow simulator. By using a new model that takes more sophisticated driver behavior into account, this new program is able to predict future traffic jams as much as an hour in advance.

Of course, in this area pretty much anyone can predict most of the local traffic jams. Say it with me folks: "Wilson bridge, 270 spur, 66 at rt 50, 395 at Duke"... you can set your watch by it sometimes.