December 8th 04, 02:55 PM
posted to uk.transport.london
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First recorded activity at LondonBanter: Apr 2004
Posts: 668
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An alternative view of traffic control
Paul wrote:
Brimstone wrote:
"Rupert Goodwins" wrote
in message ...
Very interesting article on Wired
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1...w=wn_tophead_7
reporting on experiments in removing road signs, traffic lights,
marking, even the edge beween the pavement and the road. If the
results mentioned are true, it seems the best way to cut down on
accidents and increase mobility is to remove anything that tells you
what to do and instead force drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to
use their eyes.
One excerpt:
"We drive on to another project Monderman designed, this one in the
nearby village of Oosterwolde. What was once a conventional road
junction with traffic lights has been turned into something
resembling a public square that mixes cars, pedestrians, and
cyclists. About 5,000 cars pass through the square each day, with
no serious accidents since the redesign in 1999. "To my mind, there
is one crucial test of a design such as this," Monderman says. "Here, I
will show you."
With that, Monderman tucks his hands behind his back and begins to
walk into the square - backward - straight into traffic, without
being able to see oncoming vehicles... "
Sorry we can't have that in the UK for two reasons. 1) It would put
sign makers and people in similar jobs out of work and 2) it would
put the control freaks out of work.
But it would be great business for lawyers, because accidents will
happen and it would be that more difficult to establish liability.
Those reports indicate that "accidents" have all but stopped.
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