5 ms·
One per theory I have is that humans optimize for a certain amount of risk. If roads get safer (straighter, wider, slower?, better road markings) they pay less
by comstock 10y ago
One per theory I have is that humans optimize for a certain amount of risk.
If roads get safer (straighter, wider, slower?, better road markings) they pay less attention, meaning that risk ultimately remains the same.
There is apparently some evidence for this:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/04/removal-road-markings-safer-fewer-accidents-drivers https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/04/remova...
- jessaustin 10y agoThe idea you describe is called risk compensation [0], and it has huge effects on many different human behaviors. It doesn't directly apply in this case, because the risk that matters for this is personal risk to a driver, not externalized risk to other travelers. Or maybe it could affect driving, but only if the Law re-internalized such risk by punishing drivers who kill pedestrians, which it doesn't do even though it would in any civilized society. The other re-internalization option would be for pedestrians and cyclists to travel in heavily armed packs... [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_compensation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_compensation