Removing all the traffic lights

01/26/2005

Now here’s an interesting article that says local authorities in London are about to unveil a radical solution to traffic congestion and pedestrian safety. They’re planning on removing all of the conventional road markers: traffic lights, white lines, guardrails, sidewalks, etc., and create a single “shared space” for everyone, motorized or not.

In effect, by upsetting the status quo, research (and a few pilot projects) has shown that drivers suddenly become much more attentive and aware. They can’t just roar through the light on mental autopilot when there is no light. They have to watch their entire surroundings, make eye contact with pedestrians, and so on. They have to become engaged to be effective.

Strikes me there’s a lesson to be learned here. What status quo can you shake up today? How can you force a developer or a manager who’s roaring through on autopilot to stop and become aware-~~and engaged~~-with their surroundings?