Traffic calming measures like lane narrowing have successfully been used in Europe for safety.
Drivers don't follow traffic rules. They follow the rules that appear to make sense for the scenario they're in.
No matter how many 15 mph speedlight signs you put up on a wide street, the driver will subconsciously speed through a wide street because the brain is stupid like that.
Want drivers to stop before the footpath, raise it up. It'll make them feel like they're off-the-road and they'll slow down.
Everything about cars is associated with perceptions.
Families buy heavy cars for the perception of safety, but instead have a vehicle that is harder to turn and is more likely to end up in a ditch. They buy taller vehicles to feel safe but have instead purchased a massive blindspot notorious for trampling over your own children. Unprotected bike lanes look like shoulder lanes you can serve into, and that's how drivers treat them.
You're absolutely correct about the feeling of discomfort when driving through narrow lanes.
The biggest lie we tell is that cars are safe. No, you're wielding the most lethal murder weapon in the country, with almost zero training and 1 mistake is all it takes to get a prison sentence.
Outstanding comment, you're absolutely correct about everything. Except this:
> 1 mistake is all it takes to get a prison sentence
On the contrary, on top of everything you've pointed out, if you do kill someone (or multiple someones) at the wheel of a car you're unlikely to get more than a few months in prison AT MOST.
Drivers don't follow traffic rules. They follow the rules that appear to make sense for the scenario they're in.
No matter how many 15 mph speedlight signs you put up on a wide street, the driver will subconsciously speed through a wide street because the brain is stupid like that.
Want drivers to stop before the footpath, raise it up. It'll make them feel like they're off-the-road and they'll slow down.
Everything about cars is associated with perceptions.
Families buy heavy cars for the perception of safety, but instead have a vehicle that is harder to turn and is more likely to end up in a ditch. They buy taller vehicles to feel safe but have instead purchased a massive blindspot notorious for trampling over your own children. Unprotected bike lanes look like shoulder lanes you can serve into, and that's how drivers treat them.
You're absolutely correct about the feeling of discomfort when driving through narrow lanes.
The biggest lie we tell is that cars are safe. No, you're wielding the most lethal murder weapon in the country, with almost zero training and 1 mistake is all it takes to get a prison sentence.
They should feel uncomfortable.