3 ms·

> The cost of going slower all the time will add up, so people will go back to going fast. Interesting hypothesis but where is the evidence? I can think of cou

by krona 3y ago

> The cost of going slower all the time will add up, so people will go back to going fast. Interesting hypothesis but where is the evidence? I can think of country-wide counter examples such as the UK (among the safest roads in the world) where they've been removing central line markings on country roads for years in the name of safety. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/04/removal-road-markings-safer-fewer-accidents-drivers https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/04/remova...

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123pie123 3y ago
this makes me chuckle - sorry for the tabloid link: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/britains-weirdest-road-painted-bonkers-28919417 https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/britains-weirdest-road... I'm a great beliver in getting rid of most traffic lights when its less busy - say by just having a flashing amber light, meaning its a free for all reply
tnecniv 3y ago
I read a psychology study a long while back (might be able to find it idk) that I think would agree with this line of thinking but with a slightly different mechanism. The paper argued that we have an internal risk level that we like to drive at, regardless of speed limit. Speeds higher than that risk level feel dangerous and are avoided. Speeds lower than that risk level are basically too boring and the task is not stimulating so you speed up. That risk level is individual dependent, hence some people like to speed more than others. In this context, one weird “lawless” intersection is a novelty that requires attention and is likely perceived as riskier since it is unfamiliar. However, if all intersections were like that, they become normal and people will face them more aggressively.
- bobthepanda 3y ago
  Which is why you need to engineer to a target maximum speed. The article kind of glosses over this but a big thing is that the intersection was also converted to a roundabout, which if you take too fast you’ll just wind up crashing into the side or the center. A lot of American speeding happens because engineers apply Interstate-like design standards to local roads and then are surprised by interstate speeds.

by krona 3y ago

deleted 3y ago

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123pie123 3y ago

this makes me chuckle - sorry for the tabloid link: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/britains-weirdest-road-painted-bonkers-28919417 https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/britains-weirdest-road... I'm a great beliver in getting rid of most traffic lights when its less busy - say by just having a flashing amber light, meaning its a free for all reply

tnecniv 3y ago

I read a psychology study a long while back (might be able to find it idk) that I think would agree with this line of thinking but with a slightly different mechanism. The paper argued that we have an internal risk level that we like to drive at, regardless of speed limit. Speeds higher than that risk level feel dangerous and are avoided. Speeds lower than that risk level are basically too boring and the task is not stimulating so you speed up. That risk level is individual dependent, hence some people like to speed more than others. In this context, one weird “lawless” intersection is a novelty that requires attention and is likely perceived as riskier since it is unfamiliar. However, if all intersections were like that, they become normal and people will face them more aggressively.

bobthepanda 3y ago
Which is why you need to engineer to a target maximum speed. The article kind of glosses over this but a big thing is that the intersection was also converted to a roundabout, which if you take too fast you’ll just wind up crashing into the side or the center. A lot of American speeding happens because engineers apply Interstate-like design standards to local roads and then are surprised by interstate speeds.