So called traffic safety articles that the cagers have access to might perpetuate certain myths and/or confuse the general cager.  If the cagers are reading this stuff and we are not, we could be surprised by evolving cager behavior. 

I hope this is found to be benneficial here. All musings and wonderments are welcome.

nobody rides half as well as they know how.

Here's an example of the ratcheting effect of traffic controls--once employed, they can't be removed because drivers become dependent on them. Long ago, traffic signal timing was different than it is today. The east/west lights changed from yellow to red at the same instant the north/south lights changed from red to green. The now-ubiquitous all-red interval, which lasts for about 2 seconds at the intersections where I've timed it, didn't occur.

The all-red interval is employed because a test done somewhere or other found that it reduced red-light-runner crashes. But it didn't take drivers long to realize that they had an extra second or two before cross-traffic would enter the intersection, thus making it safer to run a red light. The unintended effect was to make the fresh red "squishier". It no longer signals imminent danger from cross-traffic, so red-light running is more common. And red-light-runner crashes are just as frequent--if not moreso--than before the all-red interval was instituted.

But going back is now impossible. Imagine what would happen if the all-red interval were eliminated. Drivers expect that grace period, and if they don't get it carnage will ensue.

I have no idea anymore where I picked this idea up, but here goes.

I was told that in addition to your point, the 2 second all red interval was to give drivers a chance to check the rear view mirror and see if the following driver was paying attention and slowing appropriately. Thus, a driver having to stop rapidly for a light change might be able to avoid collecting the following vehicle.

I will bet that a poll of road users will show that near none have a clue about this orientation.

nobody rides half as well as they know how.

I am reminded of the week I spent working in Sicily here. I was tooling down the 2-lane highway and watched in horror as the guy in front of me swung out to pass a car ahead of him. Meanwhile, coming the other direction, there was an oncoming car passing also. So we had 4, count 'em! 4 vehicles abreast, heading for each other at highway speeds! And they just kept on keeling on and all 4 somehow managed to actually make it. I was scared to death an stomping on the brakes thinking this was going to be bad. Now THAT is rational, careful driving!

Or how about on the Autobahn? You get out there to pass a truck and before you know it, you have a Beemer or a Benz right up your a$$ at 90MPH. They come up on you so fast, you don't even know it...

I dunno... I'd rather drive over here in the States. I managed to survive 6 years in England and Germany and still wondered how I ever made it.

Godzilla
1985 BMW K100