IF YOU have a chance, check out the story in today’s Independent on Sunday called Tree scheme slows down fast drivers.

It’s fascinating. Norfolk County Council has planted trees on the approach to four villages that help to reduce the speed of drivers. It does this by ‘tricking’ the driver’s eyesight.

The trees are planted at decreasing distances apart – a reduction of 1m each tree – and the effect is to alter the driver’s peripheral vision so that there is a perception the driver is speeding. It’s very clever.

Provisional results from the initiative suggest drivers have reduced speed by an average 2mph.

It’s not the first time visual trickery has been used to alter the perception of drivers. Villages have been given back much more traditional street furniture – or the surfaces have been treated differently or perhaps white lines have been removed – which cause drivers uncertainty. As a result, they slow down as they analyse and assess the altered street landscape.

TRL research laboratory has done much work on this. In fact, I think it was their work published in 2005 that included the use of trees to reduce speed

I think the work’s important. Giving back more responsibility to the driver is essential. It will lead to safer roads.

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