Mikael, at Copenhagenize, examines the “bull in the china shop” that traffic safety campaigns ignore:
Like our previous post about applying logic to the case and placing health warning labels on all cars and trucks, a change of focus about the very real possibility of killing innocent people while driving would be an effective way to place responsibility in the right place, as well as encourage motorists to choose alternative transport forms.
Comments 5
It would be such fun to see cars from the factory with “WARNING: Driving kills” stickers.
Posted 14 Oct 2009 at 6:05 pm ¶I’m intrigued by the motoring helmet idea. Wonder if that would “dangerize” driving like it has cycling.
He’s onto something with the Bull idea. Our culture is in complete denial about the destructive capabilities of fast, heavy vehicles. That’s why driver licensing, testing and retesting is so pathetic. That’s why our enforcement of speed limits allows for an extra 10mph over and why our justice system treats the consequences of negligent driving as an “accident.” If we raised the requirements to a fraction of what is required for a private pilot (including the personal responsibility) we’d see a whole different traffic culture.
Posted 15 Oct 2009 at 7:11 am ¶Lovely… Considering the death toll, it seems appropriate.
Keri… Before the culture can change, Americans will have to begin to actually care that 40,000 die each year.
Posted 15 Oct 2009 at 7:13 am ¶It’s classic addiction denial. We’re attached to our cars. Most people have chosen to structure their lives so they are dependent on them, so they’ve built identity with their car choices and become emotionally attached.
All this stuff is connected to that.
I’m working on a law enforcement bicycle education program and getting a really clear look at the cultural bias and how it permeates the law enforcement community.
We recently had a go-round on the “sub-standard” lane statute. Most cops cannot get their heads around the idea that a cyclist is actually entitled to use the whole lane on MOST roads. That has to be wrong. Cyclists can’t possibly be allowed to get in the way of motorists except in rare circumstances.
It’s cognitive dissonance caused by car-culture bias.
You can’t see it when you’re inside of it.
Our task is going to be to gently pull these guys outside the bias bubble so they can see what it looks like.
Posted 15 Oct 2009 at 8:08 am ¶Keri… You might want to talk with Robert Johnson at PedNet here in Missouri. He’s also been working on enforcement training with some good success. You’ve seen his name because he’s a frequent commenter on CT.
Posted 15 Oct 2009 at 11:34 am ¶