Feb 9, 2011: Road safety illusion

[Sundae]

Oh dear. Seems I am to be the sole voice in support of it.
It's not intended to shock and scare drivers, nor to get them to slam on their brakes.
It's a poignant reminder of why speed limits are imposed.

It's well advertised and promoted and in a single location, not popping up all over the place unannounced. It's like a billboard in effect, but on the road not by the side. A 2D image serves as an advertisment. It's the difference between driving past a poster of a scantily clad woman and just being aware of it, and actually seeing her beside the road with all her clothing falling off and her boobies about to become bare - not THAT might affect your driving.

I'm all for anything that encourages people to see the reality behind traffic laws and traffic calming measures. The amount of parents I see driving to school every day in a way which endangers other children - turning with no indicators, trying to beat the lights, pulling over in restricted areas, looking at/ talking on their mobile phones (even in high risk areas like right outside the school for FSM's sake!) Speed limits are not just pointless bureauocracy by The Man to curtail freedom. They save lives.

I'm not saying this decal is the perfect solution, but I am certainly more pro than against.
Anyone want to wager whether the dire prophecies of the Cellar will come true...? I'll put a fiver on it

[GunMaster357]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Speed limits are not just pointless bureauocracy by The Man to curtail freedom. They save lives.

While I do agree with you on this, they're not the only factor. A bit of common sense would be good on the part of everybody (either drivers or pedestrians).

As a driver, my worst fear nearly became reality a few years ago. In France, inside a city, speed limit is 50 km/h or less in specific places. That day I came to a stop at a traffic light in Paris. Light becomes green, ok. I begin driving down the street, accelerating just enough to go maybe up to 40 km/h. I notice a young woman that climb down the curb between two parked cars to cross the street. She's NOT at a crosswalk. There is one at both ends of the street. In my mind, she's going to wait until it is possible to cross. Then I noticed that her arms are not in a normal position, they're extended in front of her.

That's a fucking stroller with a baby inside. Of course, I did slam the brakes. I stopped a mere inch from the toddler. Yet, I was the one to be labelled a killer.

In most people minds, you're the driver therefore you are the evil one.

Had I hurt that baby, I would probably have ended in prison. Yet, I wasn't the guilty one.