| A new study showing that bad roads contribute | | | | calm traffic, traffic calming devices include speed |
| for more than half of the traffic fatalities in the | | | | bumps, roadway restrictions, and signs painted on |
| US has stirred a lot of debate. From 1979 to the | | | | the road surface. Probably the best and most |
| present, most studies have shown that driver | | | | visible examples of traffic calming procedures are |
| error is most responsible for traffic collisions. Are | | | | the traffic circles that are replacing traditional |
| bad roads at fault and will improving the roads | | | | four-way intersections. Traffic circles allow traffic |
| reduce the fatality rate? There is some data to | | | | to move through an intersection without the use |
| show that the traditional methods of road | | | | of traffic lights. Traffic circles force drivers to |
| improvement may actually make the roads more | | | | slow down upon entering but keep traffic moving |
| dangerous. | | | | more smoothly due to the lack of traffic lights. |
| A lot of the nation's highways are in bad shape, | | | | Traffic calming measures have been implemented |
| including bridges and overpasses. There is no | | | | from Florida to Washington State but city |
| doubt that we need more and better roads to | | | | planners are finding that they are very expensive |
| relieve the traffic burden; especially in large cities. | | | | to install and maintain. Traffic calming is most |
| However widening roads, adding more signs and | | | | often seen on urban streets with lower speeds. |
| clearer lane markers may not be the best | | | | Studies have found that implementing traffic |
| answer. There have been some arguments | | | | calming measures on major highways have had |
| claiming that widening roads and painting clearer | | | | little impact on speed control. |
| markings will lead to the "Peltzman Effect". | | | | Hans Monderman, a Dutch traffic engineer looked |
| Sam Peltzman, a professor of Economics at the | | | | at some of the traffic calming procedures and felt |
| University of Chicago theorized that people tend | | | | they were ineffective. Monderman rejected the |
| to respond to safety regulations or safety | | | | notion that wider roads and more warning signs |
| technology by engaging in more dangerous | | | | created a safer environment. He was hired to |
| behavior. He felt that people adjust their behavior | | | | look at a street in the Dutch village of Oudehaske, |
| to a regulation in ways that counteract the | | | | where speeding drivers had struck and killed two |
| intended effect of the regulation. One study that | | | | children. Instead of employing the typical traffic |
| found the Peltzman Effect to be true looked at | | | | calming devices, Monderman removed the curbs, |
| increased safety technology in NASCAR race | | | | took out the signs, and used paving bricks that |
| cars. The study revealed that safety | | | | had the effect of making the road seem |
| improvements in race cars have resulted in riskier | | | | narrower. The effect was to create enough |
| driving behavior and an increase in the number of | | | | uncertainty in the minds of drivers that traffic |
| collisions on the raceway. | | | | immediately slowed down and the average speed |
| The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety | | | | was dramatically reduced. Without signs or lane |
| (IIHS), in looking at new technology to make cars | | | | markings, the effect changed driving behavior |
| safer, warned that systems designed to keep a | | | | making drivers more accommodating and |
| car from automatically straying from the lane or | | | | cooperative. |
| from coming too close to a vehicle ahead are | | | | On another project, he removed the traffic |
| great in theory but they feel it will give drivers a | | | | signals and signs and replaced a traditional |
| false sense of security leading them to take their | | | | four-way intersection with what he called a |
| eyes off the road more often or allowing them to | | | | "traffic square". The resulting increase in |
| become more distracted. | | | | cooperation between motorists, cyclists, and |
| The intended effect of building wider, clearer | | | | pedestrians led to a dramatic decrease in the |
| roads is to improve the flow of traffic and to cut | | | | collision rate. He often demonstrated the |
| down on injuries and deaths due to collisions. The | | | | effectiveness of this new intersection by safely |
| Peltzman Effect however says that, as roads are | | | | walking backwards down the street with his eyes |
| improved, drivers feel they can take greater risks | | | | closed. |
| and the average speed on the roadway increases. | | | | Keeping the Peltzman Effect in mind may help |
| As a result, the intended effect of making the | | | | drivers, city planners, and traffic engineers to |
| road safer is offset by riskier driving behavior and | | | | more safely negotiate the current driving situation. |
| the rate of collisions is basically unchanged. | | | | Drivers who rely on vehicle safety technology and |
| As a reaction to this, traffic engineers in cities | | | | roadway improvements to keep them safe could |
| around the world have moved to a European | | | | be forgetting that safety on the roadway is |
| innovation known as "Traffic Calming". To slow or | | | | ultimately their own responsibility. |