Comment by harrylove

13 years ago

Actually, the current thinking and observation by some urban designers is that "naked roads" can result in safer driving habits[1][2]. The problem is one of environment, design, and policy.

"There is a clear link between people's surroundings and their behaviour. If people are in an unpleasant environment, they will behave badly." - Ben Hamilton-Baillie

Also, in Montana, for example, adding speed limits to interstates which previously had none resulted in more traffic fatalities[3]

1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4213221.stm

2. http://www.salon.com/2004/05/20/traffic_design/

3. http://www.motorists.org/press/montana-no-speed-limit-safety...

4 comments

harrylove

Reply
dredmorbius  13 years ago

There are also "traffic calming" designs (some of which incorporate naked roads concepts) which can reduce accidents.

David Snowden (I ran across his name searching for items related to another Snowden in the news) mentions in a YouTube video a roundabout in England which, despite its visually frightening appearance and apparently very high traffic densities, is one of the safest intersections in the UK.

  • AnthonyMouse  13 years ago

    Traffic calming can be an issue though, because it reduces traffic speeds, which can actually increase overall risk when it slows down emergency vehicles. Especially in residential areas, you can end up reducing the number of minor traffic accidents at the expense of increasing the number of non-traffic-related fatalities by increasing the emergency response time of fire trucks and ambulances.

    • pm24601  13 years ago

      This is a non-problem:

      1) The other road users are operating at a slower speed so it is considerably easier to get out of the way.

      2) emergency access is affected by the issue causing the emergency ( a crash for example )

      3) normal congestion will put the effective speed lower anyhow.

      4) traffic calming can actually increase the throughput of a street For example, converting a street with 2 lanes each direction to a single lane with a central left turn lane: eliminates the congestion caused by people stopping to make turns from the left lane.

      1 reply →