This is an excellent article on Harnessing the Power of Feedback Loops.
In it the author explains the success of getting motorists to slow down in school zones by the use of "dynamic speed displays" that simply show a driver his or her speed on a large display by the side of the road.
What I find interesting is that everyone seems to be surprised that this works. Why would drivers slow down without any threat of a speeding ticket or other form of punishment?
I don't know about you, but I don't find this surprising at all.
When driving, like many people, I do speed at times, mainly when the road is dry and clear and more often on motorways.
In built up areas and near schools however, I try to keep to the speed limit but at times my speed creeps up and I don't notice even though I have a speedometer.
I don't need to be fined or punished for this. If I am reminded by a radar controlled sign that am speeding I inevitably slow down.
It comes back to my recent post on Stop doing things to people. We need to start to work from the assumption that people are responsible but that they are also fallible human beings that we need to work with and not against.
Its very simple really. I am not at all surprised by the figures on reduction in speed.
