Would removing road markings make for better drivers?
Would you be a better driver if someone removed the white lines on the road? Well, this is something that is being thought about, in a bid to slow people down.
It seems the uncertainty that comes with roads that have no markings, could make things safer. Research is saying that doing this could see average speeds reduced by as much as 13%. Are you thinking this is crazy talk, by any chance?
Either way, there's some pilot schemes happening, which are being drawn up in Norfolk, which would see that lines on narrow roads being erased. There's already been trials in Derby and Wiltshire, and lifted lines have not been replaced on three roads in South London.
Transport for London's experiment said that "removing central white lines resulted in a reduction in vehicle speeds" and that the results displayed a "statistically significant" reduction in vehicle speeds as a result of the removal of central markings. That's because these lines "can provide a psychological sense of confidence to drivers that no vehicles will encroach on ‘their’ side of the road."
"There can also be a tendency for some drivers to position their vehicles close to a white line regardless of the traffic conditions, believing it is their ‘right’ to be in this position" they added.
While some are in favour of this, the AA's head of road policy, while talking to The Times, is not one of them, saying that the white lines saved lives.
So what do you make of this? Do you think a driver's common sense would see that the roads were largely safe, or indeed, do you not like the idea because you worry about the lack of common sense that some people have?
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What do you think?