Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
I actually think the one on the left is safer. Visibility is the most important factor in car on pedestrian collisions.
The road in front of our house is like the one on the right, though somewhat wider, and it's a collector road with a lot of traffic. Because of the curve, and the cars and trees along it, as a pedestrian you're mainly relying on your hearing to tell if there's a car coming. Which isn't ideal. I have to cross the street to get my mail, and I have to jog now and then to make it (there aren't any crosswalks anywhere near).
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Narrower lanes and roads with more complexity automatically cue greater attention. Inattentiveness combined with speed are the biggest factors in both the frequency and severity of collisions. There are a lot of studies and empirical evidence on this. This is how places like Sweden and New York in their vision zero initiatives have achieved the tangible improvements in public safety. Yes, it is counter intuitive, but provably true.