AUTO ANARCHY

AUTO ANARCHY

There is an interesting experiment taking place in Europe. Towns in Belgium, England and Denmark are taking down all traffic signs and signals. You heard me right...no stop signs, no traffic lights, no speed limit signs, no parking meters, no signs of any kind.

This experiment has been going on in a town of 45,000 in the Netherlands. They are repaving their roads and sidewalks with cobblestones. No signs, no lines in the road, no delineation between roadway and sidewalk. The only rules are "yield to the right" and "get in someone's way and you'll be towed." People there use hand signals and nods of the head. Traffic accidents have been reduced drastically. No one speeds - they're afraid to. I guess the roads aren't smooth enough to speed, anyway. Some major intersections where there were traffic lights have been turned into traffic circles. Without rules, drivers have to be courteous. Drivers are more responsible. Each driver decides what is too fast.

This is another rejection of over-regulation. I'm all for it. I hope it works.