Does it really calm or slow traffic?
Folks who live at the painted intersections say that drivers are more observant and cautious, including themselves. Part of this could be because most of the people who drive fast in neighborhoods are the people who live right there — and if they participate in a PtP project and get to know their neighbors and the kids, they drive more consciously and carefully. It is bad enough to drive into a stranger, even worse if it is your neighbor and friend. A painted pavement, along with any other visual cues (toys, benches, bird feeders) on or along the road, let passers-by know that it is a lived-in neighborhood where folks know each other and might be outside chatting, playing, or gardening at any time — so they should drive carefully.
