This is one of those ideas that I’m not sure is either brilliant, or horribly misguided.
The city of Vancouver was unhappy that drivers seemed to be speeding through school zones, and ignoring the speed bumps as well.
So they’ve decided to unveil new “pavement paintings” on the city’s speed bumps near École Pauline Johnson Elementary School.
The 2-D image they’re using? A playing child.
That’s right, the image is designed to make it seem to the driver that as he’s driving closer and closer to the school zone, he’s about to ram into a child.
According to this story, the pavement painting appears to rise up as the driver gets closer to it, reaching full 3-D realism at around 100 feet. “Pavement Patty,” as the girl in the painting is known, is intended to “give drivers who travel at the street’s recommended 18 miles per hour (30 km per hour) enough time to stop” before running over the fake child, “acknowledging the spectacle before they continue to safely roll over her.”
Wow. I mean, wow. I guess this could convince people to drive slower. I think it also could mean a ton of drivers slam on their brakes and cause accidents because they think they’re about to hit an innocent child.
Curious to hear what you think; brilliant idea, or really misguided one?
**I mentioned last week that I was finally taking the plunge and starting to watch the show everyone has told me is so awesome, “Friday Night Lights,” from the beginning.
Six episodes in, I’m hooked. The music is fantastic, and it plays under just about every scene. The acting is excellent, particularly Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler. The football scenes? Yeah, there’s some Hollywood-ization there, but I’ve seen much worse.
So far I have to admit it’s as great as everyone has told me it is. Really strong writing, and Minka Kelly is not bad to look at every episode. Just sayin’.
On a related note, my best friend Clay has finally, after years of me nagging, begun to watch Season 1 of “The Wire.” I’ve told him he’s got to stick with it for at least 3-4 episodes, because it gets better every episode and you need to at least give it a chance.
After one episode, he called and reluctantly agreed it’s “interesting” and that he’ll keep watching.
It’s the best show in the history of television, I’ve told him. I hope he watches long enough to believe me.
And for you “Wire” fans out there, here’s a great clip:
The Wire and Friday Night Lights are two of the best TV shows ever. ‘Wire’ alumni Michael B Jordan and Larry Gilliard Jr are in season four of FNL.
Regarding the good folks in Vancouver. Once the speeders realize they are looking at a 3D image, and driving over it does no harm, they will continue their law breaking ways and may speed up and strike a real child one day.
damn. i took the time – and believe me, that means something! – to comment and jay beat me to the punch. i envision a canadia where helpless children are run down effortlessly by evil doers – speeders.