“sanon, it might sound like a joke, but you might be knocked out (in the good sense!) when you see it working. If you think about it, the current system of control doesn¿t ensure road safety ¿ 3000 people die, and 12 times that number are seriously injured on UK roads every year, alot of them defenceless children. So the current system doesn¿t work very well. The fresh approach stimulates the human instinct to empathise and co-operate. I imagine there will be public consultations. Please continue to contribute to the debate, but keep an open mind.”

“i think the bit about cars and pedestrians working it out for themselves is a joke. drivers in Devon dont care about anything else except getting to their destination as quick as possible. Put in some drunken fools then it makes me laugh.

how about looking at the whole traffic issues in the high st. so many times its blocked by stupid lorries, coach drivers and daft parking. Divert or restrict or have a car free zone during the day. that will make it safe”

“Bewildered - your comments raise serious concerns as well as smiles. No, there is no truth in the rumour that Hans met his fate under the wheels of a bus. He had cancer. He would show visitors to Drachten how safe shared space streets are by walking backwards into the road without looking. Invariably, drivers negotiated movement around him. The primary principle of road safety is to watch the road. What do traffic lights do? Take our eyes off the road. Since shared space was introduced in Drachten, accidents and congestion have disappeared. - I agree that Ilfracombe's narrow high street poses a challenge. As it is, the pavements are inadequate. The new integrated paved surface should allow more leeway for pedestrian movement. But shared space doesn't promote willy-nilly wandering about. If it means less room for vehicles, i.e. if it means oncoming traffic has to wait its turn, that's all to the good. It works in Combe Martin. It works on the narrow lanes throughout Devon. When you can see a reason for slowing down or stopping, you don¿t mind. It¿s a form of natural traffic calming. - As regards the blind, they need tactile clues for orientation, which these schemes can incorporate. One suggestion (made by blind Professor of Inclusive Environments, Peter Barker, in The Case Against Traffic Lights for Newsnight), is 30° rubberised kerbs. With its fatally flawed main road priority rule, the current traffic control system confers inferior rights on vulnerable road-users. It puts the onus on blind people and children to beware drivers. On naked streets or ¿FiT Roads¿, a new hierarchy emerges with vulnerable road-users at the top. In the event of an accident, unless it can be proved otherwise, liability lies with the driver. Any collision that might occur is minor, because drivers are proceeding slowly according to the context, rather than insisting on artificial rights-of-way and racing to beat lights. The pedestrian is king and queen, but pedestrians have responsibility too. A question for those who say it would never work: have you ever tested it? Your point is well made about the possibility of the novelty wearing off. It's one of the reasons I¿ve been proposing extended trials to test the ideas in pursuit of robust evidence. But again, think of Combe Martin and Devon lanes. It works. It always has and always will. People are not stupid, even if traffic engineers and policymakers assume we are. - Regarding street signs: instructional signs distract us and disfigure streetscapes ¿ but where are the directional signs when we need them!?”

“Is there any truth to the rumour that poor Hans Monderman met his nemesis under the wheels of a bus-on-a-naked-street? I think if you speak to civic officials where this has been tried, they will tell you that the impetus for this was originally an economic-savings one: street signs are a large component of municipal budgets. Sorry to be cynical but it's true.
This naked streets idea might work in places where there is plenty of space to spread out. But in the narrow streets of Ilfracombe, I wonder whether it wouldn't just become a frustration for anyone on wheels, since pedestrians would be entitled to wander wherever they like without rules. The theme "that eye to eye contact between pedestrians and drivers is what determines movement on naked streets" is truly frightening!!! Not exactly a level playing field for the naked pedestrian vs. the naked car. What about blind/sight-impaired, less mobile, older people who aren't nimble enough to jump out of the way when a cyclist bellows for clearance? This experiment has already had bad results on the footpath with pedestrians being knocked over. Perhaps just ban cars from the seafront altogether and run shuttle thingys around. Or make certain streets pedestrian-only. Combining the two on a common surface just defies common sense.
Martin, you are obviously passionate about your ideas, and good that someone is, but wait till yer an oldster...these ideas of freedom for all will take on a different ring for you.
The 'niceness' people display is common to all emergency situations - but the veneer of civility will quickly wear out. As for the media coverage you anticipate, it may very well turn out that the articles about Ilfracombe's experiment, if it goes forward, will appear in the Weird News sections.”

“Nobody said the whole of Ilfracombe is populated by druggies or alchoholics. It is a fact that they frequent the High Street though. I actually live in the High St so I can see it with my own eyes. I've just looked out of my window. What did I see? 2 tobacco smoking alchoholics outside the pub. It is easy option for the councillors to comment on the High St when they live in Langleigh Park, The Sheilds, Broad Park Avenue, Torrs etc and don't have to walk their children to school via the High St.”