Hundreds of people were stuck in the world's most peaceful traffic jam, they had no reason to be angry
- This Spanish artist intentionally caused a tailback in the Basque Country
- She wanted to make a point about how the world and people interact
- Over 160 cars were included in the world’s most peaceful traffic jam
Published on May 22, 2025 at 8:15 AM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on May 22, 2025 at 8:15 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Back in 2005, hundreds of people in Spain were stuck in the world’s most peaceful traffic jam, but in this case, they had no reason to be angry.
Surrounded by the lush green landscapes and towering beautiful mountains of the Spanish Basque Country, it seemed like this gigantic tailback formed out of nowhere.
That’s because it did. And it was probably the most peaceful traffic jam that has occurred anywhere on the whole planet.
Spanish artist Maider López invited anyone with a car to meet her in the Basque mountains for an art project taking place in the middle of nowhere.
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If you were traveling through the lush green countryside and mountains of Spain, the last thing you’d expect to find is a traffic jam that rivals those in a built-up suburban city.
Well, in 2005, if you decided to visit the winding mountain road that led up to the Aiako Harria Natural Park in the Basque Country of Spain, then that’s exactly what you would have stumbled across.
This traffic seemingly started out of nowhere and was caused by nothing. But no one seemed angry or was in a rush to get out of it.
That’s because everyone in that traffic jam went willingly, invited there by Spanish artist Maider López, who had asked anyone with a car to meet her there for an art project.
Arranging the 160+ vehicles by color, López formed a traffic jam deep in the lush countryside. And she encouraged the participants to chat, stretch, and interact as normal, pretending to wait for it to clear.
Her reasoning? She wanted to put a common urban nuisance into an untouched and beautiful landscape, forcing us to see something so commonplace in a different light.
Maider wanted people to know that it wasn’t art about cars or people. It was about what it means to be stuck together and how we interact with the world.
Maider López simply named the project ‘Ataskoa,’ which is Basque for traffic jam. And this simple concept still causes people to stop and think two decades later.
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
