|
||||||||
|
|
Recent Editorials |
Fewer Signs, More Mindsby Sandy Ikeda
Last December I blogged "The Common Sense of Traffic Anarchy," about how the cities in the Netherlands (and other Northern European countries) have begun to successfully address traffic problems by removing traffic regulations and signage. Over at the Atlantic Monthly Web site, Don Staddon argues that American roads have far too many of these. (Thanks to The Austrian Economists for the pointer.) Staddon claims that Attending to a sign competes with attending to the road. The more you look for signs, for police, and at your speedometer, the less attentive you will be to traffic conditions. The limits on attention are much more severe than most people imagine. And it takes only a momentary lapse, at the wrong time, to cause a serious accident. Fewer signs mean fewer distractions. But what's also happening is that signs tend to substitute for minds. By training drivers to drive according to the signs rather than their judgment in great conditions, the American system also subtly encourages them to rely on the signs rather than judgment in poor conditions, when merely following the signs would be dangerous. He cites the Dutch town of Drachten, subject of the video in my earlier blog post, where the absence of signs has actually served to sharpen drivers' awareness and common sense.
|
Would You Like to Become a Sustaining Subscriber of the Sun? Sign up now * Inquire about the Sun Seminars Follow The New York Sun 
Buy China Wholesale Products on DHgate.com For Vegas Show tickets, shop ShowTickets.com Make sure your dresses are beautiful Planning an Orlando Vacation? Visit Best of Orlando! |
Print
Send
RSS
