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Slow Down

by Dave Atkins

[Thanks to Anne McIntyre for bringing this idea to my attention...]

We've all seen those "Slow down, family neighborhood!" signs and wondered if they had any effect. Traffic engineers would probably say signs have NO impact at all and the only way to "calm" traffic is to modify the roads, but the Town of Needham is trying something different.

Signs designed by kids, described as "emotionally intelligent" because they invoke more of an empathetic reaction than negative, impersonal commands, may help to subconsciously remind speeders of WHY they should slow down. Needham has deployed a number of these signs which are inexpensive to create and wildly popular with residents.

They are definitely a better idea than this article I found about residents putting out life-size cardboard children near the road to scare cars.

Submitted by Dave Atkins on May 7, 2009 - 8:02pm
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Comments

Interesting, but I fear that

Submitted by JohnCraine on May 7, 2009 - 8:39pm.

Interesting, but I fear that signs like this just fade into the background after a short time. Perhaps if we had lifelike child robots run into the road at random intervals drivers would learn to slow down. But no, after running over a robot or two they would simply learn that they were only killing robots and not real children and continue to drive too fast.

~ 

John Craine

50 Blue Hill Drive

signs go in the neighborhoods

Submitted by Dave Atkins on May 7, 2009 - 9:16pm.

One of the interesting observations in the article--and fortunately, I don't believe there is even any data for Westwood--is that most accidents happen in neighborhoods. Also, the speeders are NOT strangers--they are our neighbors and ourselves because we travel the roads most often. I've heard that when the police set up speed traps--they end up ticketing the people who wanted the traps so badly...

So although my first reaction was also skeptical about signs making a difference, I think the community exercise of creating the signs and posting them would be empowering in its own right. In the same manner that large groups of children and parents walking to school would change perceptions, the visible activity of creating and deploying unique signage in the back streets of Cobleigh, Dean, Parker, and Croft Regis (Islington area) would help build a perception and expectation of safety. It probably will not stop the cut through speeders, but it would be one more thing that gets people out on the streets--making the streets part of our community, not just roads to carry us from place to place.

Dave, Thanks so much for

Submitted by Anne Marie McIntyre on May 7, 2009 - 9:47pm.

Dave,
Thanks so much for taking an interest and posting the article. I had a very informative conversation with the Town Administrator's Office in Needham, they are very excited about the positive response to their signs. I really believe this idea is sound and will make a difference.

Sgt. Sicard has some very interesting information on your points. The speeders usually are ourselves and neighbors...including the parents rushing from one place to another with our children. We are numb to the traditional traffic signs, as the Sgt. will confirm. For instance an area of Westwood asked for more signage for speeders, the signs went up, and the requesters never even noticed!

I empathize with Mr. Craine of the possibility that these signs may fade away like the traditional traffic signs. Hopefully, Mr. Pink is correct in his thinking, by appealing to the right side of our brains, these signs may have a longer lasting effect, I guess time will tell. Regardless, it is a creative,educational and cost effective way to involve our community to enhance the safety of children, pedestrians and drivers.

I am very optimistic that our Westwood town leaders will be supportive and invest in the safety of our community, especially in our children and soon the signs will be posted.

traffic calming redux

Submitted by JohnCraine on May 8, 2009 - 7:03am.

I think back to all of those traffic meetings for Westwood Station and Canton Street. The traffic consultants always said that signage is not effective for slowing traffic. You need to build the road so that it discourages excessive speed by making it narrower, reducing straight line views by putting in more curves, creating raised crosswalks, adding rotaries. These are just some of the options.

 

Signs may work initially because of their novelty but there is no evidence they have any long-term impact on behaviors. ~ 

John Craine

50 Blue Hill Drive