[Sigia-l] Counterintuitive

From: Scott Nelson (scott)
Date: Sun Jan 23 2005 - 02:23:11 EST

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On Jan 23.2005, at 12:52, Yogesh Tadwalkar wrote:

> While it will be really nice to hear the real experience of drivers or
> pedestrians from Netherlands, I sincerely doubt whether the basic
> premise here that accidents happen because drivers attention is
> 'diverted' by signs and traffic lights is correct.

At heart, I doubt your assertions as well. I wonder if this is just
because I think I'M not distracted by traffic signs. Having said that,
I've run stop signs three times in my life because I haven't been
paying attention - roads felt wrong.

It was interesting to move from Toronto -> Vancouver. The two have very
different rules about traffic. Fundamentally different philosophies
really. Speed limits tend to be 10km slower out there.

Live in a city long enough, you just get a feel for a road. Roads that
feel like they should be 60 are 50 here. Highways that I'm comfortable
driving at 100 (and I, btw, drive like a grandmother) have posted
limits of 80 here.

> 1. No one can set expectations or form habits....this will cause
> congestion and pollution.

I think you may have inadvertently hit on one of the points of this
experiment? Or test? Whatever you want to call it.

Why, exactly, is congestion a problem?

I have one reason - because you're driving a car when you shouldn't be.

I am occasionally guilty of this, but not very often.

The point is, you're looking from a very car-centric view point. Stop
it. Cars are a necessary evil at this point in our society's evolution,
not a toy, despite what my german ex-wife (and her very german father)
thinks.

> 2. No rules situation loads working memory beyond what's necessary.

It's not an issue of memory really, it's an issue of current attention.

> 3. No dividers between roads and sidewalks? Where do people stand if
> they want to ask for directions or kiss someone goodbye before
> crossing?

There are any number of roads which have no painted divider lines here,
albeit lightly trafficked ones.

And on one of them, my car go particularly schmucked despite the fact
that it was parked the other night.

The yellow line doesn't really help the flow of traffic much.

--
Skot Nelson
skot_at_penguinstorm.com

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