Experiment with digital countdown clocks proves generally successful
Maybe it’s because I don’t get out much, but I have never seen one of these of the digital countdown clocks that New York City has decided will help pedestrians get across certain crosswalks without risking life and limb – or at least with minimized risk to life and limb.
From the New York Post:
Thousands of the timing devices are going to go up across the five boroughs after an exhaustive 17-month experiment showed that they’re safety boosters — at least for some of the widest streets with the most traffic.
The percentage of pedestrians stuck in crosswalks as the light turned against them on one stretch of Hylan Boulevard on Staten Island fell from 20.3 to 14.9 percent after numerical displays counting down the seconds were added to the standard flashing-hand warning signal.
“In safety terms, this is huge,” declared Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “People sometimes make risky calls when they’re crossing the street. This takes the guesswork out of the equation.”
Not only have I never seen one, I’ve got to admit that the thought of deploying such technology had never even crossed my mind, not even when putting a sense of urgency in my step while crossing a New York City intersection.
But why stop with the pedestrians?
Why not provide countdown clocks for drivers? Three seconds left on yellow? Better goose it and get through there.
You say that might erase any newly gained safety benefits being afforded the pedestrians?
I say Darwin would approve.
