In Boone, North Carolina, a driver rolled through a stop sign and hit a pedestrian. This is a common occurrence at this intersection and in many cities. But why? A psychological phenomenon called inattentional blindness might play a role. You’re surrounded by a lot of visual stimuli all the time. If you had to pay attention to all of it, you’d get overwhelmed and not be able to function. To protect you, your brain often filters out things that you’re not consciously looking for. This is especially true when you’re doing a complicated activity that already uses a lot of mental capacity, like driving. This means that your brain can filter out the sight of a stop sign or a pedestrian crossing sign, especially if nothing in the street design forces you to pay attention. North America’s default for dealing with inattentional blindness is to add more signs, which just increases visual stimuli and forces your brain to filter out even more information. To actually address the problem, the street design needs to force drivers to pay attention through concrete, tangible measures, not just visual cues. Some cities do this is through raised crosswalks, others through curb extensions that narrow the street at crossing points. Broader traffic-calming measures, like narrowing the whole street, also force people to pay attention and makes it more likely that they’ll notice signs. Want to learn more about this crash? Join the free Crash Analysis Studio webinar tomorrow, where a group of experts will analyze the crash site and discuss the factors that contributed to it. (Link in the comments.)
Paul Allred
4w
In the last five years or so,I’ve noticed an alarming new traffic pattern, “rolling pauses” at STOP signs. At some intersections, it is now virtually ALL vehicles doing the same illegal and dangerous maneuver. It’s very dangerous and blatantly disrespectful, to say the least Perhaps I am off topic here, but I wonder how many other planners like me have noticed the same thing, AND, what is/an be done to halt this growing trend. Thoughts?
I live on a corner with an all way stop. I sometimes will sit out and just watch people drive on thru. I find that maybe 1 in 20 drivers will actually come to a full stop before proceeding, some people barely even acknowledge the sign. This is a very big issue in my neighborhood and town and state. I have spoken with our city council member and we spoke about street design and the Strong Towns approach.
Most intersections should be roundabouts. Slower speeds and yield is a more appropriate design/operation. Let everyone use the space. The other factor is, why are we so rushed to get places?
Bill Gallip
4w
While intentional blindness may pay a role, I would argue that as a nation we see traffic laws as suggestions rather than requirements. The increase in intentionally running stop stop signs and stop lights, and speeding is all tied together.
Nick Bogut
3w
Why do people roll through stop signs? Extraordinarely simple anwser, because of lack or poor enforcement by the police. No need to do psychological studies or any other nonsense. Cops need to enforce that just like they should enforce signaling before changing lanes. They don't, and people get away with it, so it's a free-for-all, pretty well, on our streets and highways.
Strong Towns
4w
Register for the free webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ldsH0xCTQWO8a8tNRu9qnQ#/registration
The overuse of Stop Signs by local jurisdictions also contributes to the disregard for stopping at stop signs or doing a rolling stop.
This feels like the exact reason I had a close call in a roundabout in Bend Oregon yesterday. Driver in a truck pulling a trailer yelled back at me (after flipping the bird which must have been a default reaction to being yelled at, so my bad) that he didn’t see me.
One thing automated driving technology has done is make this on the manufacturers. They could install technology to make sure their vehicles stop at stop signs, and only go 5 mph when turning. Driver assist to protect cyclists and pedestrians should be mandatory.
Aspiring Urban Planner | Urbanism, Real Estate Development and Management Enthusiast | Eager to Connect and Learn
4wI would not call it “inattentional blindness” but a moral blindness. It is a moral compass that says that following traffic rules is relative rather than absolute. Traffic laws were designed to hold drivers to certain standards so that our roads would not be anarchous, but have a sense of order, security, and safety. That is why intersections have stop signs. There would be chaos if all people decide for themselves that traffic laws are mere suggestions. People will continue to get hurt unless people take personal accountability for their moral behaviors.