French village resorts to bizarre way of stopping cars from speeding
Forget cameras, squiggly white lines could be the new way of slowing cars
The innovative installation is aimed at keeping drivers within the village’s speed limits
Celikali / Shutterstock
Speed cameras and bumps in the road are the most traditional methods of preventing speeding.
However, one village in France has turned convention on its head with an innovative - and bizarre - new approach.
Bauné near Angers has painted squiggly white lines in the road, making it look like the canvas of a surrealist painter.
It is an attempt “to create a visual disturbance to encourage people to slow down,” said Audrey Revereault, the village’s mayor.
The lines have been painted at a key junction connecting three departmental (D) roads.
Despite locals being perplexed, the mayor said that the road markings “are working” as intended and slowing down drivers at the junction.
Drivers going ‘100 km/h in a 30 km/h zone’
Local authorities believed drastic action had to be taken, with drivers sometimes going three times over the speed limit at the intersection.
Authorities reported “very excessive speeds” were being recorded in the village, with “peaks of 100 km/h… even though this zone is limited to 30 km/h.”
The lines are supposed to surprise drivers and cause them to take their foot off the pedal and be more aware of their surroundings.
You can see how they look below:
Even though they may look dangerous at first glance, the village is quick to assure that they are safe, and not designed to confuse drivers.
Read also: French villagers club together to open their own petrol station
Some residents perplexed
Unlike the mayor, others are less sure of the installation, believing it may do more harm than good.
“In view of the road markings, can someone explain the priority rules to me?” quipped one person on social media.
Despite the mayor’s claims the lines are efficient, others are doubtful of the long-term success.
“It'll work for the first week and then it'll go back to the way it was before,” said another resident.
It remains to be seen if the lines are as efficient as other methods, but if they prove to be, maybe they will come to a junction near you one day.
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