Interesting article on successful experiments in reducing traffic accidents by getting rid of all traffic signs:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/shaffer/shaffer213.html

"For a number of years now, a number of cities in Europe have been experimenting with the removal of all traffic signs – including traffic lights, stop signs, speed limit directives – and with surprising results. Various towns in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, New Zealand – even the UK! – have joined in the experiment. Contrary to the expectations of those who might expect multi-car pileups throughout the cities, traffic accidents have been dramatically reduced (in one town, dropping from about eight per year to fewer than two)."

>>in one town, dropping from about eight per year to fewer than two)."

Ah... would this mean just one. Just curious!

This pretty much sums up your research.

Perhaps you should look at real towns with real people.

Have you not witnessed the caos at intersections when the lights go out. At least until the police arrive to direct those who have no idea what to do or when to go.

Maybe having no traffic signs in small towns that only have a few car accidents a year might work, but it would be total chaos in big cities!

I agree with rehctub in that I too have witnessed the chaos of multiple traffic lights being out, especially in peak hour traffic.
Not for me thanks!

Pretty much guys- removing traffic lights only works on quiet roads that have only two or three cars a minute going either way on an intersection (with no peak hour traffic) allowing enough time to get through.

Although having said that I could imagine quite a few traffic light areas being replaced by roundabouts with "give way" signs- especially near the RSL clubs and suburban business districts- it's insane that a private venue gets to stop traffic (even if its because I'm going there).
Especially when I've seen areas that HAVE used roundabouts and worked just fine.

Would never work for CBDs though.

I would imagine that when the traffic slows to 2kmph the accident rate will reach zero

Oh yea of little faith!

Go to Noosa, observe the reduced level of speed signs in busy places where vehicles and cycle-pedestrians mingle.

The trick is to remove speed zone signs, narrow the lane width, encourage cyclists and pedestrians to take their rigtful place, and vehicles slow down.

In the US there are all sorts of tricks that are tried out. I read of the removal of traffic lights creating a reduction in accidents as drivers were forced to actually look at other people in cars to see what their faces indicated...had they seen other cars, were they waving you on and so on.

Our suburban roads are far too fast, and should be reduced to at least 40 kph, if not 30 kph as in Europe.

The necessary conditions to make the results expressed in this article do not support the authors generalized conclusions.
His concept might work in small towns where most of the people know each other or the actual traffic flow was low.
I would suggest that once you get to levels where the individual is merely the motorized unit in a busy traffic flow, a whole new set of factors (particularly group psychological)ones tends to take over. Thus rendering the idea as, inappropriate and dangerous.

Imagine it in Sydney or Melbourne CBD!

If we went back to the always Give Way to Your Right at all intersections or T-junctions in peak hour - you would never get to work on time.

I imagine in smaller urban areas it might work given that people would take more care in being aware there were no traffic signs.

@pelican: Imagine it in Sydney or Melbourne CBD!

You don't have to imagine.

The Arc de Triomphe is Paris is a "8 lane" roundabout. I put 8 lane in quotes because there are no lane markings, but I did count 8 cars across. There are no traffic signs, no lights, no traffic coordination of any kind I could see. The traffic in Paris is certainly no better than in Sydney.

The first time I saw it in action I was sitting beside an American, who I hadn't noticed until he said under his breath "this is absolute chaos". I thought it was an apt description.

Chaos or not, it worked. I did see cars travelling at 90 degrees to the traffic flow and a lot of other insane things. But I didn't see an accident, and I didn't see the traffic stop for any length of time.

The picture on Google Maps is a light traffic day. The days I saw it there was not enough space to walk between the cars.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&geocode=&ll=48.873822,2.295054&spn=0.001538,0.00464&t=h&z=18

Before seeing the Arc de Triomphe I had heard Traffic Experts say what Jardine K. Jardine says here I was sceptical at the time too. But they are right - it works. In fact, from what I could see the French treat all road signs are purely advisory, yet it all still seems to work. Interestingly, the drivers in France seemed to be lot less aggressive, a lot more willing to give way to others, and in happy to go with the flow and let others do the same. In retrospect, I don't think they have much choice.

The only caveat is it only works in low speed suburban situations, where the drivers have time to react.

I have said for several decades that the ONLY solution short of not having vehicles is to install speed governors in vehicles. 80km/h ! Period !

Here is a video of the Arc de Triomphe that shows roughly what I saw, although again the traffic is lighter than when I saw it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BliGIPQ_KHc

rstuart
The French are less aggressive - really?

In my experience, the French don't follow the road rules so I guess taking down signs and traffic 'calming' measures would make no difference. :)

@pelican: The French are less aggressive - really?

Yeah, you're right - but I am not sure how else to describe it. The point I am trying to make is if a French driver drove over here the same way they drove over there, I think they would end up a victim of road rage. Australian drivers are not very tolerant of others bending the rules even if it does make the traffic flow more smoothly, whereas in France it is expected behaviour. The end result is compared to us Ozzies, the French are very tolerant drivers.

@pelican: In my experience, the French don't follow the road rules

Yes, hence my comment that the French treat all road signs are purely advisory. But the Italians make the French look like law abiding wimps, so it is just a matter of degree.

Dear Jardine,

We have lived in California where the driving
test, the enforcement of the road rules, and
frequent driver re-testing ensured a far safer
level of driving then we experience in Australia.

Most of the driver-education in California focused
on driver responsibility and as in the
case of Los Angeles, where some four-way intersections
relied on driver responsibility to give way to the
right, and the first vehicle at the intersection had
the right of way. From our experience there was never
a problem.

It would take extreme driver-education in this country
for the removal of traffic signs to work here. I doubt
whether this tactic would succeed here due to the
stubborn-pigheadness of some people. And the attitude
of "the rules don't apply to me."

I heard about these experiments on radio a few years ago. I believe it was on counterpoint on radio national. It was an interesting program. One point I remember was that taking away the signs meant people had to actually think and adapt to the conditions around them. They discussed how people given a traffic sign would just drive "blindly" according to the sign without thinking. An example was given of a small street in a town with children playing only a metre or so away. With a 60km sign people would drive by at 60km/hr with the children so very close by. It seems they just thought they were being told it was acceptable. When the signs were removed it forced the drivers to think and adapt to the conditions around them, and they all slowed down when they saw the children.
The conclusion of the program was that the removal of the signs meant people had to interact with the conditions around them, rather than just be like zombies. I think they did mention it didn't tend to work in very high flow conditions.