Comments on: Optical Speed Bars Might Trick Drivers into Slowing Down

By: floyd

floyd — Fri, 05 May 2006 01:20:27 +0000

road race tracks use descending numbers approaching tight corners to let drivers know when to set-up to apex the turn. sounds like these could be used for the same purpose!fun!

By: M. Murcek

M. Murcek — Thu, 04 May 2006 23:26:39 +0000

The first "epileptic seizure caused by the strips" lawsuit will end this stunt...

By: Optical Delusions

Optical Delusions — Thu, 04 May 2006 19:42:19 +0000

I sure hope this is nothing like those optical illusion pictures. You know, the ones that look like a normal picture but if you stare at it just right some other picture pops out at you. Because I never get those pictures. I would hate to get into an accident because some dork in front of me saw an illusion.

By: Russell Newquist

Russell Newquist — Thu, 04 May 2006 18:30:07 +0000

If it's really screwing with drivers' perceptions, I worry about possible safety effects. It doesn't sound like there are any that would be obvious, but that's dangerous territory to start stepping into.

By: Rodney Dill

Rodney Dill — Thu, 04 May 2006 18:12:57 +0000

Its not even just figuring is out its a conditioning the brain which in many cases is automatic.

When you first switch from driving without cruise control to driving with it, you at first feel like the car is accelerating because you're used to taking your foot off the gas to apply the break.

With progressive lenses in glasses everything is distorted for awhile, until the brain adjusts then straight lines look straight again.

People that regularly face this illusion will 'automatically' adjust.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Thu, 04 May 2006 18:03:43 +0000

It probably will work all right until it get used too much. Then people will get use to it and learn that they can go faster then their perception then it will cause them to go faster in nonillusion places, which can be a hazard.

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Thu, 04 May 2006 18:00:48 +0000

It will require the driver to ignore the optical illusion that is telling his brain he is going faster than he really is. Not that easy to do but it's possible. If not, they can always just go back to having marked police vehicles there to give out tickets.