Obstacle Course

We've seen a lot of schemes in HoCo to slow down traffic -- circles, speed bumps, speed humps, re-striping roads, rumble strips, increased patrols, stop lights -- that never seem to quite do the trick. But this little experiment in our neighborhood appears to actually be having an effect, and gradually drivers are getting the idea that they are SUPPOSED TO STOP when pedestrians are in the crosswalk.

In our tests, motorists stop about 65 percent of the time. But if we catch the driver's eye, the percentage goes higher. Regardless, the combination of narrower lanes and that little sign in the middle of the road does force many drivers to slow down.

Shortly after the obstacle course went up, we witnessed one driver who tried to fly through the intersection only to clip the curb, bash her rim and pop her tire.

Oops.