On: Amsterdam to use “noise cameras” against too loud cars

[greenbit]

At the low frequencies that tend to dominate and at that volume, it's relatively difficult to figure out where the source of the sound actually is, especially with buildings around that reflect sound every which way

[vladvasiliu → greenbit]

It was a one-way street, so it was pretty clear where the traffic was coming from.

[sampo → vladvasiliu]

> It was a one-way street

I don't think pedestrians are generally aware if a street is one-way or not.

[Someone → vladvasiliu]

I do not think that matters much.

I don’t think your brain learned about one way streets and started fully trusting drivers to follow the law, certainly not the low-level parts that govern the “there’s something there you may need to pay attention to” mechanism.

[vladvasiliu → Someone]

What do you mean?

I usually am aware that I'm in the middle of the street when I'm not supposed to be there (think when there's something blocking the sidewalk or similar). In this case, I'll absolutely pay a lot of attention to my surroundings. Hell, even when I cross the street at a green light, I'll look before I step off the sidewalk.

Because in my mental model of traffic, drivers are very likely to not follow the law.

I may very well be in the right and the guy running me over may very well be certain to get convicted, but what good does that do to me if my legs are broken or worse?

I think it's the same thing with the new electric cars, which have to make a noise because people can't hear them coming otherwise. This, to me, means that pedestrians are expected to pay at least some attention to their surroundings. Which, of course, doesn't mean you should run them over or otherwise put them at risk if they're careless.

But my overarching point is that enough people don't pay attention even when they are expected to, and no amount of noise is going to change that.

[pdimitar → vladvasiliu]

> Because in my mental model of traffic, drivers are very likely to not follow the law.

You are actually agreeing with your parent poster here. What you said is exactly why people look both ways even on a one-way street.

[ttymck → pdimitar]

I think the point, consistent with the original story, is that most people don't look either way when crossing the street.

[mistercheph → Someone]

Behold, the dialectic of the material conception of the human mind. In my mind it bears an uncanny resemblance to the liquid humours posited by our forefathers, no?

[natch → vladvasiliu]

Deaf people exist. And there are going to be people in the middle of the road from time to time; it happens. And sometimes people make mistakes. I’ve even seen people not realize that a street was one way. And sound reflects and bounces, and vehicles are capable of moving at different speeds; they’re even capable of moving the wrong way or on adjacent roads or on cross roads or on fields, making the determination of location not always straightforward. And any factors that did or did not apply in your story may apply in others. Just all the more reason for drivers to be careful.