Feb 9, 2011: Road safety illusion

[toranokaze]

An an attempt to raise awareness of road safety. These drawing can be found on the streets of Canada.

http://www.moillusions.com/2010/09/u...-illusion.html

[morethanpretty]

That seems like a bad idea. Its too realistic. If I saw that it would cause me to freak, even if I was a ways away. Then if I drove by that sorta thing on a regular basis, I'd get used to it and when I saw a real thing is the road, I might think its just a realistic picture and ignore it....
Nope, bad idea.

[GunMaster357]

Impressive for sure. But I am not sure it won't cause problems.

If I ever came across something like that at night with no other lighting than my car's headlights, I'll probably brake like mad and try to avoid it. Yes, strictly speaking, it's not there, yet I suppose I won't have the time to think it through.

At best, a nice recipe to go plowing into a field. At worst, a few less pedestrians walking on the curb... (or is it "kerb"? I've seen both)

[Sheldonrs]

Looks more like training on how TO run over a child.

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by Sheldonrs

Looks more like training on how TO run over a child.

"Here, hold my beer and watch this!"

[ToastyOhs]

Some more photos here:

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/201...-down-traffic/

I have always spelled it curb, here in the USA, kerb sounds a bit Engrish to me.

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by ToastyOhs

Some more photos here:

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/201...-down-traffic/

I have always spelled it curb, here in the USA, kerb sounds a bit Engrish to me.

You're thinking of Miss Muffet: kerbs and whey.

[jimhelm]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

You're thinking of Miss Muffet: kerbs and whey.

no,no,no..... THEEEESE are Kerbs:

[Pete Zicato]

I'm with MTP on this. Very bad idea. You are training people to ignore the visual cues that says there's something in your path.

Plus I see lots of rear-end collisions from people slamming on the brakes to avoid the fake kid.

[Coign]

So I was also quickly under the belief that this would train drivers to run over little girls. Especially ones with stupid pink balls. I hate pink balls.

So I went to their website (preventable.ca) to see what they have to say in defense of themselves.

http://www.preventable.ca/2010/09/ou...tting-noticed/

Because this project is the first of its kind in Canada (and possibly the world), there are a lot of questions as well as some misinformation being circulated surrounding it. So here are the facts to help clarify any misunderstandings:

* Preventable, BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation, and the District of West Vancouver launched this pilot project as a back to school initiative to raise awareness about more kids on the streets this fall and drivers’ awareness in school zones during the critically important first week of back to school. This project will exist for one week only to capture drivers’ and pedestrians’ attention.
* We started in April 2010 with careful consideration and planning that included discussions with the District of West Vancouver, parents, the school board, engineers, and police.
* The District of West Vancouver engineers have done a full risk assessment of this initiative and are supportive of the concept and its implementation. Their helpful and professional advice led to additional safety measures including additional static and dynamic signage in advance of the image and a police presence. On-site monitoring of motorist behaviour has since confirmed that there has been absolutely no evidence of abrupt stopping or swerving by motorists. The police, traffic engineers, parents, and Preventable have been monitoring, and will continue to monitor, traffic around this 3D illusion.
* The 2D decal gradually appears 3D to drivers approaching the image. A risk assessment of this project shows that drivers do not mistake this image for a real girl and can see the image 100 feet away. The image does not “jump-out” at drivers and there is no “startling effect”, the road conditions on 22nd Street are very good for this project, which is precisely why this location was selected. Sight lines are perfect northbound along the road and to the cross streets. Although the community continuously grapples with unsafe driving behaviours in this particular school zone, twenty-second (22nd) Street in West Vancouver has a very good vehicle crash record. The number of crashes since 1996 (the earliest year for which we have records) is insignificant. This is was also an important criteria in choosing the site as the best location for the project.
* Preceding the illusion are clearly marked school zones signs (30 KM maximum speed limit), a cross walk, traffic calming curb extensions in advance of the illusion, and a Preventable signs that read, “You’re probably not expecting kids to run out on the road.” There is also a STOP sign at the end of the block. All these factors mean that motorists are slowing in anticipation of stopping regardless of the 3D illusion.
* A public awareness program was started in advance of implementation of this project to inform drivers and the general public of the image.

[Sheldonrs]

Originally Posted by Coign

So I was also quickly under the belief that this would train drivers to run over little girls. Especially ones with stupid pink balls. I hate pink balls....

Especially GIRLS with pink balls.

[monster]

Originally Posted by GunMaster357

the curb... (or is it "kerb"? I've seen both)

Originally Posted by ToastyOhs

I have always spelled it curb, here in the USA, kerb sounds a bit Engrish to me.

curb is American, kerb is British.

I have no idea which version the Canucks and Aussies prefer, but when used as a verb, curb is universal.

[Shawnee123]

The 2D decal gradually appears 3D to drivers approaching the image. A risk assessment of this project shows that drivers do not mistake this image for a real girl and can see the image 100 feet away. The image does not “jump-out” at drivers and there is no “startling effect”, the road conditions on 22nd Street are very good for this project, which is precisely why this location was selected. Sight lines are perfect northbound along the road and to the cross streets. Although the community continuously grapples with unsafe driving behaviours in this particular school zone, twenty-second (22nd) Street in West Vancouver has a very good vehicle crash record. The number of crashes since 1996 (the earliest year for which we have records) is insignificant. This is was also an important criteria in choosing the site as the best location for the project.

Drivers do not mistake the 3D image for a real little girl and can see it from 100 feet away. Right, if they're paying attention, rather than reaching for a cell phone or daydreaming and suddenly seeing what appears to be a small child running into the road. This kind of stuff is what the campaign is trying to warn against, so traffic bozos won't be enlightened in any way.

* Preceding the illusion are clearly marked school zones signs (30 KM maximum speed limit), a cross walk, traffic calming curb extensions in advance of the illusion, and a Preventable signs that read, “You’re probably not expecting kids to run out on the road.” There is also a STOP sign at the end of the block. All these factors mean that motorists are slowing in anticipation of stopping regardless of the 3D illusion.
* A public awareness program was started in advance of implementation of this project to inform drivers and the general public of the image.

Again, who are they targeting? People who are paying attention and going slow anyway.

I think they just think it's cute. I totally think it's BS that they think it will prevent anything. As others have said: more likely to cause a problem than to prevent one.

Like the old "put your headlights on so you stand out and you're a safer motorist." Until EVERYONE has their headlights on then you're immune to headlights because they become commonplace.

[Gravdigr]

Strikes me as a lawsuit waiting to happen.

[Wombat]

A recipe for a head-on smash on the other side of the road: distracted driver notices little girl at wrong moment and swerves left to avoid her, hitting car coming the other way. It'll be interesting to find out who is deemed at fault.