Narrower lanes, less accidents?

Aliso Viejo down in South Orange County is blessed with wide parkways. But that's also part of the problem. City officials say excessive speed is the biggest cause of accidents in the suburb. But the city is trying to reduce the problem by making some lanes narrower, City Engineer John Whitman tells the Register:

Since the city incorporated in 2001, the city has re-striped several streets to narrow down the lanes, Whitman said. By doing so, drivers tend to slow down because of the lack of space. "If you perceive you have a wider lane, you go faster," Whitman said. Because of the narrower lanes, the city has received several calls from residents who are unhappy with the change, but the smaller lanes have been effective in slowing people down, Whitman said.

Narrowing lanes of traffic has become a common "traffic calming" device.

Do you think narrow lanes work? Hit the COMMENT button and have your say!

Comments

[Shaun]

of course they will work. People drive a speed they feel safe at and on wider roads thats a higher speed. Some stupid little black and white sign does very little to slow down drivers compared to narrowing a road.