quote:

ORIGINAL: kinkbound

Maybe the same experiment would work for government too.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MrKicia

What is the drivers test like in the UK?  The drivers test in the US are a joke, at least in SC.  Study this book, memorize it then click the corresponding answer on the computer.  Here is your permit to drive.  Then its up to the parents to further teach the kids, parents by and large are getting worse and worse, they can let alone support themselves but another living being is dependent on them?!

Also i believe the percentage of manual shift cars is significantly higher in the UK, correct?  It is my opinion that people who drive manual shift cars are more in tune with their driving and are more attentive to the road and their surroundings.  Driving a manual shift car is a skill that takes practice, driving an automatic is well, idiot proof.

I think you can tell where im going with this.  If you turned off the traffic lights at a major intersection in the US, disaster will ensue.  Ive seen many a time people cant even navigate a 4 way stop.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

There is a sort of similiar experiment where I live. The corner my apartment is on is 2 one way streets with no stop signs. Therefore everyone is supposed to stop and use right of ay rules for who goes through. Most people do. However some people simply zoom through at full speed, apparently assuming oncoming traffic has a stop sign. So far only pets have been hit but there have been lots of squealing brakes and blasting horns. So here at least we need stop signs to control traffic for safety.

quote:

ORIGINAL: hertz

In the UK there is also talk of removing some road markings and instructional signage. The theory is good - too much reliance on being told what to do (by signals, signs and markings) makes us less likely to rely on our own (superior, when applied to a specific situation) common sense. If we have to work it out for ourselves, we are more likely to make good decisions and err on the side of caution.

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/stroud/news/Road-markings-removal-success-Stroud/article-1677871-detail/article.html

quote:

ORIGINAL: igor2003

There may be a few places in the US where taking out the traffic signals would work, but I don't think the mindset of the US drivers would allow for it in too many places.  Too many US drivers are over aggressive with a "me first" attitude.  It is pretty much just my opinion (I don't really have any "facts" or references to back it up) but I think the people of the UK are more considerate, with more manners than the people of the US, which would make things like taking out traffic lights more successful for them.

quote:

ORIGINAL: mischoolboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: hertz

In the UK there is also talk of removing some road markings and instructional signage. The theory is good - too much reliance on being told what to do (by signals, signs and markings) makes us less likely to rely on our own (superior, when applied to a specific situation) common sense. If we have to work it out for ourselves, we are more likely to make good decisions and err on the side of caution.

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/stroud/news/Road-markings-removal-success-Stroud/article-1677871-detail/article.html

superior common sense? Isn't this the same folks who were considering wrapping mattresses around your light poles to stop people from walking into them while looking at their cell phones?

quote:

ORIGINAL: mischoolboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: MrKicia

What is the drivers test like in the UK?  The drivers test in the US are a joke, at least in SC.  Study this book, memorize it then click the corresponding answer on the computer.  Here is your permit to drive.  Then its up to the parents to further teach the kids, parents by and large are getting worse and worse, they can let alone support themselves but another living being is dependent on them?!

Also i believe the percentage of manual shift cars is significantly higher in the UK, correct?  It is my opinion that people who drive manual shift cars are more in tune with their driving and are more attentive to the road and their surroundings.  Driving a manual shift car is a skill that takes practice, driving an automatic is well, idiot proof.

I think you can tell where im going with this.  If you turned off the traffic lights at a major intersection in the US, disaster will ensue.  Ive seen many a time people cant even navigate a 4 way stop.

thats odd, here in the mitten state, kids have to go to classes, get a learners permit, then log x amount of miles driving with a adult before even attempting to take the test.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ResidentSadist
Seems to me that the reliance on drivers is the same as US traffic roundabouts . . . which didn't work well or we wouldn't have stopped using them and opted for traffic lights.  The  example was a low speed intersection and seems like a unique junction.  I just don't think you can wipe out the timed traffic lights to save money and still maintain speeds of 45 to 55 mph on US highways.