Posts Tagged ‘ traffic ’

Why Street Signs Make Traffic More Dangerous

This is an interesting article which outlines how the proliferation of street furniture, signs, and attempts to separate pedestrians and traffic do not actually result in safer streets. Removing the barriers between pedestrian and motorist can help. I’ve experienced this in Belgium and the Netherlands and it definitely has merit. I believe that such measures to remove the clutter and distractions from city streets needs to take place, particularly in countries like the UK which have ridiculous amounts of signage and “safety” barriers. See this article.

Not only are barriers, cones, signs, and road markings ugly, but they unduly increase the motorists’ feeling of security so that they pay less attention to their actual surroundings and focus solely on “following the rules”. In situations where there are no clearly defined rules, such as denuded streets without roadmarkings or signs, motorists feel less secure and are naturally inclined to drive more cautiously.

Read the full article. It gives a compelling argument for clutter-free shared spaces for motorists and pedestrians.


Waiting at gate to board my flight to Barcelona. Very grateful for aforementioned healthy time buffer as traffic round Rotterdam was appalling. Was starting to sweat but made it in good time. Amused to discover that Rotterdam Airport could more accurately be described as a shed in a paddock. I’m waiting at gate 8 of 8 and gate 1 is only about 15 metres away. They even share doors to the tarmac! Reminds me of Palmerston North airport.

My plane is waiting so hopefully we leave on time. I was going to attach picture but not sure if that is possible from iPhone app. So if u find a picture, it is. If you don’t, it isn’t.

Next blog from Barcelona!