The number of PSAs about not getting mowed down during Halloween was absurd. ‘Wear reflective vests’, ‘only cross the street in groups’ - and not a single ‘hey, it’s Halloween and there’s going to be excited kids everywhere - please avoid driving and if you have to, be super extra careful’.
My partner’s idea, which I thought was brilliant, was that the speed limit on all residential streets should be dropped to 20km/h for the day.
Why only for the day though?
Imo there is no reason and there should be no right to drive much faster than that right past a house people live in, no matter the date.
The speed limit on all residential streets should be at the very most 30km/h year round. Since I started active commuting every day, I’ve noticed how alarmingly scary it is going 50 when I do have to drive. Reaction times at that speed do not allow for the amount of braking distance required.
The more I active commute, the more my distaste for driving grows. I don’t really want to drive in a big downtown like Philly or Seattle again if I can help it. Its stressful and there are too many people around for everyone to take up one F-250, one Hummer, or one Escalade worth of space.
I don’t understand all these PSAs. Nobody is trick or treating along a 45-55 mph suburban arterial. They’re in the neighborhood. I don’t care how fast people drive on the freeway as long as they’re safe about it, but if you can’t drive 25 in the neighborhood, you should be forever forced to park on a main road outside of it and walk in on foot.
we need a distinction between streets in roads, culturally, legally and design-wise. a road is for cars to go fast, a street is for residential/business life. people should intuitively know which they’re on by looking at it and act accordingly
https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2017/10/30/the-stroad like this, but you can also get all old urbanist about it and make your streets all Really Narrow
The problem is that many neighborhood streets were designed to be wide so you could feel completely safe driving on them, however the problem is that this makes you drive faster, meaning that when accidents do occur, they’re more severe, and happen more often. This is also why many people speed on stroads, because they feel comfortable at 60 when the limit is 45.
neighborhood streets should be narrowed to no more than 20 ft, maybe even less, and the rest of the land annexed into adjacent properties
15 actually, and extra street accessories to prevent speeding.
make it legal for people to put holloween decorations in the street (with the understanding if you do the fire truck/ambulance is allowed to run them over if need be)
How about starting with proper driving lessons and tests and not letting children drive 1+ ton death machines?
Also regular tests for people who have been driving to ensure they understand the changes in driving laws and to reinforce safety guidance.
In one of those situations only someone in a long term relationship can understand my wife was upset as I was not worried that she may be dead when I wake up. Please don’t ask me to explain these kinds of things. The main point is I was saying I was worried about her when she is off driving someplace as that is the most dangerous period of time.
