Doesn creating intrigue and uncertainty in streets compromise safety?
I put a whole chapter in the book to answer this question; The Safety Paradox, page 95. In some circumstances, making the road environment more predictable does make it safer. However, in neighborhood streets, making them more predictable actually makes them less safe. The key to unraveling this paradox is to understand the concept of ‘false sense of security’. Traffic control devices, in the neighborhood context, create a false sense of security. I think this chapter is an important contribution to understanding why the Hans Monderman approach to street design reduces traffic speed and makes streets safer.
