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Recently I visited a historical hydro power plant, which is still operational. The operators were in the process of adding huge shields and fences around the fl

by n1000 7y ago

Recently I visited a historical hydro power plant, which is still operational. The operators were in the process of adding huge shields and fences around the flywheels due to safety regulations to protect visitors. Apparently they had been only fenced off by a rope and the faith in humans‘ self preservation instinct for the last 100 years. However, when i saw those fences, it struck me as very odd why this is not mandatory on every road. The amount if kinetic energy of those flywheels is certainly comparable to a 1-2 ton car moving at 30+ km/h.

djmobley 7y ago
In London, authorities have been doing the opposite—removing pedestrian guard rails. One study [1] found this has resulted in a significant (56 percent) decrease in collisions resulting in deaths or serious injuries. [1] http://foi.tfl.gov.uk/FOI-2274-1718/Pedestrian%20railings%20removal%20collisions%20analysis%20%28no%20stats19%29.pdf http://foi.tfl.gov.uk/FOI-2274-1718/Pedestrian%20railings%20...
- akadruid1 7y ago
  Presumably this means the new "malicious vehicle barriers" on the bridges will soon have killed more people than the terror attacks they are "preventing repeats" of. Apparently post-9/11 security theatre pushed so many people out of planes and into long distance driving that the additional road deaths overtook the 9/11 death toll in a few months.
vfclists 7y ago
You can't protect the mentally ill, the careless, the ignorant or the foolish from themselves. How about those idiots who take selfies close to cliff edges? If that is how you feel why not fence of high mountains to prevent mountaineers from falling to their death? Why not fix child locks to vehicles driving in safari parks so the passengers cannot jump out and be eaten by lions? That wouldn't protect them from charging elephants though.
- n1000 7y ago
  Exactly. My point is about the double standard we face in our society. In public places we sometimes see over the top health & safety regulations but other potential dangers are being quietly accepted. I am not arguing for more regulation.

by n1000 7y ago

djmobley 7y ago

In London, authorities have been doing the opposite—removing pedestrian guard rails. One study [1] found this has resulted in a significant (56 percent) decrease in collisions resulting in deaths or serious injuries. [1] http://foi.tfl.gov.uk/FOI-2274-1718/Pedestrian%20railings%20removal%20collisions%20analysis%20%28no%20stats19%29.pdf http://foi.tfl.gov.uk/FOI-2274-1718/Pedestrian%20railings%20...

akadruid1 7y ago
Presumably this means the new "malicious vehicle barriers" on the bridges will soon have killed more people than the terror attacks they are "preventing repeats" of. Apparently post-9/11 security theatre pushed so many people out of planes and into long distance driving that the additional road deaths overtook the 9/11 death toll in a few months.

vfclists 7y ago

You can't protect the mentally ill, the careless, the ignorant or the foolish from themselves. How about those idiots who take selfies close to cliff edges? If that is how you feel why not fence of high mountains to prevent mountaineers from falling to their death? Why not fix child locks to vehicles driving in safari parks so the passengers cannot jump out and be eaten by lions? That wouldn't protect them from charging elephants though.

n1000 7y ago
Exactly. My point is about the double standard we face in our society. In public places we sometimes see over the top health & safety regulations but other potential dangers are being quietly accepted. I am not arguing for more regulation.