A bizarre new attempt at slowing speeding drivers down is set to be introduced in Australia’s north east – but the unique project comes at a hefty price.
A pedestrian crossing crafted into an optical illusion in Cairns will be painted in a design the city’s Regional Council hopes will stump incoming drivers, news.com.au reports.
The $30,000 project will take shape outside a shopping complex in the CBD, with its three dimensional appearance aimed at engaging drivers with their path ahead.
A pedestrian crossing crafted into an optical illusion in Cairns will be painted in a design the city’s Regional Council hopes will stump incoming drivers
From a horizontal angle, the crossing will take on the appearance of solid blocks rising out of the bitumen, paving the way for pedestrians to use it as a bridge.
The interesting design was developed using framework already being utilised in Iceland and New Delhi, but hasn’t come without its fair share of controversy.
Some councilors slammed the project, saying the cost wasn’t justified because it was merely an ‘art installation … an Escher drawing’.
‘Is it an art installation or is this being done for the safety of the community?’. ‘It’s not advancement in technology, this is just an Escher drawing,’ Councillor John Schilling said.
The $30,000 project will take shape outside a shopping complex in the CBD, with its three dimensional appearance aimed at engaging drivers with their path ahead
A council report on the crossing stated vehicle speeds would be measured prior to and after the installation of the 3D pedestrian crossing to measure its effectiveness.
‘Residents in the town hope the pedestrian crossing will function not only as eye-catching artwork, but also as a form of protection for pedestrians on the town’s residential streets,’ the report stated.
‘The innovative trial is to be conducted for a period of at least 6 months. In the event that the line marking changes cause an increased risk for either drivers or pedestrians during that time, the trial will be terminated.’
The report also noted potential drawbacks of the new-look crossing, saying it could distract drivers to a point where accidents were caused.
Potential risks included drivers overreacting to the optical illusion, resulting in them slamming on their brakes which could result in a rear-end crash.
All councilors besides one signed off on the plan, with a project start date yet to be announced.
Potential risks included drivers overreacting to the optical illusion, resulting in them slamming on their brakes which could result in a rear-end crash