in Transportation

Traffic Calming Measures and the Driver-less Cars for the Future

Other than direct police enforcement, I feel all traffic calming measures are unsuccessful.

People choose to speed, go through stop signs and red lights regardless of posted speed limits, etc. Speed bumps and such cause damage to local cars, over time. Roundabouts and those sticks in the middle of the road are more likely to cause stress to drivers, which could threaten safety for cards and pedestrians. I do not support any of these and I live on a street with several schools, churches and traffic.

I myself have been hit while going through a pedestrian crosswalk where one car chose not to stop, though others already had. I have seen a pedestrian hit at the crosswalk in front of the Zehrs grocery store, in the parking lot. I have seen a pedestrian hit crossing at the stop sign (not jaywalking). People, drivers, have cell phone brains and do not either care or pay attention. There is no real deterrent to bad or careless driving. Pedestrians and bike riders are not better, just more at risk for their own carelessness.

I don’t have a solution to offer. But, I have seen the traffic calming solutions not working at all. Drivers still speed, far beyond the posted speed limits. But speed is not the only issue causing accidents. Traffic calming seems to be something the city can say they are doing to help shut up the people complaining. Ironic, that those same people are also speeding and ignoring driver and pedestrian safety.

I think the driver-less cars will be the best thing to come along for road safety. Whenever they become commonplace.