Traffic lights and the attitude of the Police

[Pancakes]

Yes, historically traffic was a lot slower. These existing intersections should probably be turned in to no right turns (although in a lot of cases there won't be an alternative route).

Hey sorry dude, who am I to say you contradict yourself?

[Pancakes]

The intellectual level in Switzerland is far higher than NZ (you won't see a calculator in your local bakery) for two reasons - parents already know how to think and the school system instils a high level of mental ability. Once we have a population of thinkers (or a long way towards it) we can start removing the crutches from our roads without major carnage.

I would make sure I had ALL the facts and figures before I started using phrases like "Intellectual level". I would say that better academic results are acheived in Japan too and the learning style used is to memorise information by "rote". ie, the information is memorised by repitition as opposed to learning key formula's etc.

You should start a traffic engineering firm and see if you can't get some contracts eh?

[swbarnett]

I would make sure I had ALL the facts and figures before I started using phrases like "Intellectual level".

This is from my personal observations. People in Switzerland just seem to use their brains more often. I'm not talking about scholastic results.

[Pancakes]

Sorry bro! I thought you'd be basing it on national average aptitude testing or something! So you know a few Swiss people?

[swbarnett]

Sorry bro! I thought you'd be basing it on national average aptitude testing or something! So you know a few Swiss people?

No worries, logical assumption.

Lived there for a couple of years in the late 90s.

[Pancakes]

Another thing to think about is that the car counters (machines) used to measure traffic volume each day don't describe the exact situations as they play out, also that once the data is used to change an intersection the traffic will then change too! Even though it might seem ideal to make the "perfect" traffic controls they would be too specific for the given needs they were designed too and worse if the flow etc varies. The averages used to describe traffic situations will take into account not any one situation but the range of situations that apply to that intersection. The fact that an intersection is never "perfect" makes it more adaptable/flexible.