We are all used to facing traffic signals in highways, stateways and other
roads. This is not a new concept. It was however challenged by Hans
Monderman, a Dutch road traffic signal engineer. His concept was that
rather than having punitive signals, drivers would be more concious when
they see traffic actually; if he / she sees a bunch of school kids the
brakes would automatically be placed and the speed would be reduced even in
the absence of a "School Zone" signal. Traffic would always run steady and
he had went ahead in proving statistically that accidents were actually
reduced with the removal of signals. More can be read about him in the book
"Loose-The future of Business id letting go" by Martin Thomas. This
weekend, a small note on him and his ideas is attached. Interested souls
may do goggling on his name.
European Towns Remove Traffic Signs to Make Streets Safer
Towns in Germany and the Netherlands are beginning to remove road signs in
the hope of decongesting roads and making travel a less confusing
experience.
Imagine what it would be like traveling around towns without street signs.
Would people move around carefully, looking out for each other or would
chaos break out? In the Netherlands, transport planner Hans Monderman has
pioneered a new method which involves removing traffic signs, lights and in
some cases, road markings. This concept has successfully been tested in the
small Dutch town of Drachten, which has had traffic lights removed. Other
changes included the installation of a children's playground in the middle
of one of the roads to force drivers to slow down.
Monderman said that the initial purpose of traffic lights was good and
traffic was made safer, ''but created a new problem because traffic no
longer flows.'' A number of European cities have begun to successfully
implement the system developed by Monderman, which reportedly has decreased
congestion and reduced accidents, according to police statistics.
German town to try removing traffic signs
The German town of Bohmte is among those who have signed up for the new
traffic concept from the Netherlands. The removal of road signs across
Germany has been supported by the German transport ministry, where
officials argue that the amount of signs is confusing drivers. "Many road
signs are only put up so that we are covered for insurance purposes and not
necessarily because they provide the driver with useful information, ''
said Jörg Hennerkes from the ministry.
Providing road signs is the responsibility of municipalities, who seem to
have no intention to minimize the amount of signs that reportedly appear
every 28 meters (30.52 yards) in Germany.
Residents skeptical of the change
The mayor of Bohmte, Klaus Goedejohann, said that the road restructuring
aims ''to give the town back to the people. "We don't want the cars alone
to have precedence, we want to try and make the area pleasant for
everybody," he said. The plan for Bohmte is to have all the traffic lights
and road signs removed, and it's attracted some skepticism from residents.
More than 12,000 vehicles, including large numbers of trucks, pass through
the narrow streets in the town center daily and pedestrians have virtually
disappeared from the streets.
"Many people still don't believe that it can work in practice,''
Goedejohann said. ''You just can't imagine with busy roads that suddenly
everything will change and the cars will actually slow down and show more
consideration."
But local officials in Bohmte insist they plan to remove every traffic
light and road sign from the town center over the next two years.
Roads and traffic signs take up public space
Transport planner Monderman, said the city centers become more eroded by
traffic: public spaces used in the past for meeting and socializing are
today dominated by traffic. In Drachten, Monderman has designed an
intersection without road markings, traffic lights or signs, which --
according to the transport planner -- makes the road more dangerous in
order to make them safer. "When you don't exactly know who has right of
way, you tend to seek eye contact with other road users,'' he said. ''You
automatically reduce your speed, you have contact with other people and you
take greater care."
Like I always say, brickbats and bouquets welcome!
-Sukhi
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