“Daylighting” dangerous intersections

We need this here in Brockton. Not only visually-appealing but a much cheaper road safety intervention than building new curbs, new pavement, etc.

I now go to Traffic Commission meetings pretty much every month and it’s like they’re stuck in a loop:

• A resident registers a complaint about speeding vehicles on their street. Often the resident requests speed bumps.
• A subcommittee of the Traffic Commission then goes out to study the street or intersection in question;
• The Commission – which at some point a few years ago decided as a policy to oppose all against speed bumps/humps – will most likely respond with new signs that reiterate the speed limit, “Slow-Children” signs, etc.
• But the research shows that simply lowering the speed limit – or adding signs – doesn’t do much to slow drivers;
• So, cue the next resident – upset about speeding drivers – with their complaint to the Traffic Commission.

The Traffic Commission has a budget for signs and for engineering studies. If engineering recommends a traffic light or a sidewalk with “flashing beacon”, the Traffic Commission forwards the recommendation to the Mayor… where it sits, unacted upon. Funding is the main problem.