Stop Believin’?
I love reporting that makes us step back and reexamine the most ordinary things around us. Freakonomics (which is sometimes kind of annoying) has made this into a cottage industry.
Anyway, take Slate.com’s recent rethinking of the humble stop sign. For example, it turns out more stop signs can actually make drivers go faster.
Residents of a neighborhood may complain about drivers speeding down their street and petition the city to install stop signs. But stop signs are not a safety device as such, nor a traffic-calming device: They exist to assign right of way. Faced with more stop signs, some studies have shown, drivers may actually drive faster to make up time lost for stopping at (or really, slowing through) the intersection; the more signs installed, the lower the compliance.
But what’s really interesting to me in the article is this sentence:
As Kenneth Todd has pointed out, “the traffic control system developed piecemeal. … [W]hen large numbers of automobiles burst on the scene early in the century, political pressures, guesswork, and panic measures served as substitutes for scientific expertise.”
I’m fascinated by the system of rules and signs that govern how we drive. First, because getting into an automobile is no doubt the riskiest and scariest thing we do in our daily lives. And second, because it’s unbelieveable that millions of rank amateurs driving fast-moving chunks of metal don’t crash into each other and hurt each other more often.
Based on the number of injuries and deaths on American roads, you’d think the traffic system would be a subject of a major Blue Ribbon panel. Yet we don’t even give it a second thought.
What do you think would improve our traffic system most?
traffic studies are fascinating to me. Did you know highways that add lanes to accommodate traffic end up getting more congestion?
I’d like to see narrower roads, which would slow folks down and reduce the amount of pollution from stormwater runoff.
Also, if NY got rid of its ‘bare roads’ policy, less salt/sand would be used, and our streams would be that much healthier.
Perhaps this isn’t as applicable in the rural north country, but greater investment in light rail or buses would also help ease congestion.
“What do you think would improve our traffic system most?”
Based on the observations of a career spent enforcing various traffic laws and investigating accidents, along with observing my own stupid mistakes (!!!)- We need a cure for the cranial/rectal inversion. Whether it’s inattention, carelessness, complacency, anger, stupidity or just plain driving with your head up……well, you know, driver error is the chief cause of accidents. I don’t know how you “fix” that.
a) make brake lights illegal
b) replace the drivers airbag with a railroadspike set in reverse
c) watch Darwinisim takeover
I’m with Bret on this.
And the stop sign research adds credence to my own observation — that the yellow phase of traffic lights make drivers speed up to “get through” before the light turns red. It’s amazing and frightening to see how many drivers (including the tractor trailer drivers) speed down Main Street through the amber and red lights at the major 4-way in downtown Canton.
But that’s not carelessness, usually. It’s intentional, which makes me add “infuriating.”
I’d suggest starting at the process of getting a drivers permit/license. right now all you need to do to pass a road test is to not have an accident during the test. i happen to be in a position to see the results of many young drivers road test scores. It is scary to see how easy it is to pass. Driving around a few blocks for a few minutes and maybe being able to paralell park and not crash are not valid criteria for issuing a drivers license.
Martha- “I’m with Bret on this…” Might not want to say that too much if you intend to stay employed at NCPR!!!
I think that people’s driving behaviors reflect the culture. As our civil discourse and social deportment have become edgier and more aggressive and confrontational, so have our driving habits. Also, the growth of the, Personal Truth’, culture in our times have made peoples regard for speed limits, traffic control devices etc, more subject to personal opinion, eg. “I don’t need to stop at the stop sign, because I can see well enough to drive through … I can drive safely at 65 on this back road … this 35 MPH speed zone is stupid, screw this, I’m going 50 MPH here”. “That guy pulled out in front of me, I’m gonna ride his tail for a while and see how he likes THAT!”
I agree with you, John, but would add that there’s a bit of the ole’ American (Individual) Eceptionalism:
“It’s my RIGHT to decide if thie law applies to me, and know what’s safe”! Of course, I’m an excellent driver.”
How about, where appropriate, returning to the days of traffic circles instead of stop signs?
Good addition / clarification, Dan.
Thanks!
We could try community moderation, like some blogs use. Issue each driver a paintball gun. Whenever someone rolls through a stop sign or commits some other safety violation, “flag” the offending vehicle with a splash of paint. If a cop spots a car carrying too many splotches, they pull them over next to the mobile car-crusher. Depending on the driver’s blood alcohol level, you give them a chance to exit the vehicle before the car is crushed.
I would love to splash paint when a driver TURNS ON A SIGNAL LIGHT WHILE MAKING THE TURN. Oh, I get a touch of road rage over that one. Signal lights are a truly useful feature in a car when employed some distance before the turn. And then there’s the wide swing to the left when making a right turn, and vice versa…I could go on. I, of course, am a fabulous driver…I’ve only totaled three cars in my driving life…
Totally off topic, but I’m glad to hear David reads Slate. You should try their podcasts if you don’t already – they are very engaging.