The Cellar Image of the Day

That seems like a bad idea. Its too realistic. If I saw that it would cause me to freak, even if I was a ways away. Then if I drove by that sorta thing on a regular basis, I'd get used to it and when I saw a real thing is the road, I might think its just a realistic picture and ignore it....
Nope, bad idea.

Impressive for sure. But I am not sure it won't cause problems.

If I ever came across something like that at night with no other lighting than my car's headlights, I'll probably brake like mad and try to avoid it. Yes, strictly speaking, it's not there, yet I suppose I won't have the time to think it through.

At best, a nice recipe to go plowing into a field. At worst, a few less pedestrians walking on the curb... (or is it "kerb"? I've seen both)

I'm with MTP on this. Very bad idea. You are training people to ignore the visual cues that says there's something in your path.

Plus I see lots of rear-end collisions from people slamming on the brakes to avoid the fake kid.

So I was also quickly under the belief that this would train drivers to run over little girls. Especially ones with stupid pink balls. I hate pink balls.

So I went to their website (preventable.ca) to see what they have to say in defense of themselves.

http://www.preventable.ca/2010/09/ou...tting-noticed/

Quote:

Because this project is the first of its kind in Canada (and possibly the world), there are a lot of questions as well as some misinformation being circulated surrounding it. So here are the facts to help clarify any misunderstandings:

* Preventable, BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation, and the District of West Vancouver launched this pilot project as a back to school initiative to raise awareness about more kids on the streets this fall and drivers’ awareness in school zones during the critically important first week of back to school. This project will exist for one week only to capture drivers’ and pedestrians’ attention.
* We started in April 2010 with careful consideration and planning that included discussions with the District of West Vancouver, parents, the school board, engineers, and police.
* The District of West Vancouver engineers have done a full risk assessment of this initiative and are supportive of the concept and its implementation. Their helpful and professional advice led to additional safety measures including additional static and dynamic signage in advance of the image and a police presence. On-site monitoring of motorist behaviour has since confirmed that there has been absolutely no evidence of abrupt stopping or swerving by motorists. The police, traffic engineers, parents, and Preventable have been monitoring, and will continue to monitor, traffic around this 3D illusion.
* The 2D decal gradually appears 3D to drivers approaching the image. A risk assessment of this project shows that drivers do not mistake this image for a real girl and can see the image 100 feet away. The image does not “jump-out” at drivers and there is no “startling effect”, the road conditions on 22nd Street are very good for this project, which is precisely why this location was selected. Sight lines are perfect northbound along the road and to the cross streets. Although the community continuously grapples with unsafe driving behaviours in this particular school zone, twenty-second (22nd) Street in West Vancouver has a very good vehicle crash record. The number of crashes since 1996 (the earliest year for which we have records) is insignificant. This is was also an important criteria in choosing the site as the best location for the project.
* Preceding the illusion are clearly marked school zones signs (30 KM maximum speed limit), a cross walk, traffic calming curb extensions in advance of the illusion, and a Preventable signs that read, “You’re probably not expecting kids to run out on the road.” There is also a STOP sign at the end of the block. All these factors mean that motorists are slowing in anticipation of stopping regardless of the 3D illusion.
* A public awareness program was started in advance of implementation of this project to inform drivers and the general public of the image.

Quote:

The 2D decal gradually appears 3D to drivers approaching the image. A risk assessment of this project shows that drivers do not mistake this image for a real girl and can see the image 100 feet away. The image does not “jump-out” at drivers and there is no “startling effect”, the road conditions on 22nd Street are very good for this project, which is precisely why this location was selected. Sight lines are perfect northbound along the road and to the cross streets. Although the community continuously grapples with unsafe driving behaviours in this particular school zone, twenty-second (22nd) Street in West Vancouver has a very good vehicle crash record. The number of crashes since 1996 (the earliest year for which we have records) is insignificant. This is was also an important criteria in choosing the site as the best location for the project.

Quote:

* Preceding the illusion are clearly marked school zones signs (30 KM maximum speed limit), a cross walk, traffic calming curb extensions in advance of the illusion, and a Preventable signs that read, “You’re probably not expecting kids to run out on the road.” There is also a STOP sign at the end of the block. All these factors mean that motorists are slowing in anticipation of stopping regardless of the 3D illusion.
* A public awareness program was started in advance of implementation of this project to inform drivers and the general public of the image.

A recipe for a head-on smash on the other side of the road: distracted driver notices little girl at wrong moment and swerves left to avoid her, hitting car coming the other way. It'll be interesting to find out who is deemed at fault.

Oh dear. Seems I am to be the sole voice in support of it.
It's not intended to shock and scare drivers, nor to get them to slam on their brakes.
It's a poignant reminder of why speed limits are imposed.

It's well advertised and promoted and in a single location, not popping up all over the place unannounced. It's like a billboard in effect, but on the road not by the side. A 2D image serves as an advertisment. It's the difference between driving past a poster of a scantily clad woman and just being aware of it, and actually seeing her beside the road with all her clothing falling off and her boobies about to become bare - not THAT might affect your driving.

I'm all for anything that encourages people to see the reality behind traffic laws and traffic calming measures. The amount of parents I see driving to school every day in a way which endangers other children - turning with no indicators, trying to beat the lights, pulling over in restricted areas, looking at/ talking on their mobile phones (even in high risk areas like right outside the school for FSM's sake!) Speed limits are not just pointless bureauocracy by The Man to curtail freedom. They save lives.

I'm not saying this decal is the perfect solution, but I am certainly more pro than against.
Anyone want to wager whether the dire prophecies of the Cellar will come true...? I'll put a fiver on it

Gun I completely agree with you. But in some ways that it why speed limits are so important.

My nephew by marriage ran out in front of a car because he saw friends across the street. The family walked together frequently and his Aunt was actually a road safety officer and was with him at the time. The car driver could do nothing - he hit the boy. The family were told there was a (slim) possiblity that he would not regain the use of his legs or more likely would always walk with a limp. The driver was driving UNDER the speeed limit and was cleared of all blame by the Police and by the family, who accepted completely that it was the boy's fault.

He recovered without a limp, but I think in the end he bounced back quicker than the driver, who will always have to live with the memory and sensation of hitting a ten year old boy and watching him fly up into the air. The only positive is thanks to the fact he was observing the speed limit, he does not have to live with a death on his conscience which he could have done nothing to prevent.

Even the best educated children are still children, and there are plenty of people out there who are not the best educated to start with. I'm not demonising anyone behind the wheel, my rant about mothers is more about hypocrisy than anything. There are some right eejits out there on both sides.

Since both are correct, I'll stick with KERB on the sidewalk and hope American speakers will CURB their laughter

You'd prolly have to boil one of those several hours to get it tender enough to eat. Sailcat is now redefined.

Suggestible drivers might be programmed into running real children over, like with post hypnotic suggestion. Most people drive in a highly suggestible kind of trance anyway, so who knows what effect this could have on people.

HA!

Hi Bono!

You know, every time you clap your hands, a child in Africa dies.

Fake speed bumps are much more effective than fake children. The child painted on the road is most definitely going to cause a crash, particularly from someone unfamiliar with the area.

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fa...-slow-you-down