The Indian government may use 3D paintings as virtual speed breakers (减速带) on major highways and roads, in order to check speeding and careless driving, and finally make its deadly roads a little safer. “We are trying out 3D paintings used as virtual speed breakers to avoid unnecessary requirements of speed breakers,” India’s transport minister Nitin Gadkari wrote.

The optical illusions (视觉错觉) are supposed to encourage drivers to slow down automatically. Earlier, India had ordered the removal of all speed breakers from highways, which are considered to be a safety hazard for high-speed vehicles. India has the highest number of road accident deaths in the world. According to the World Health Organisation, over 200,000 people are killed by road accidents.

The use of optical illusions as speed breakers was first pioneered in the American city of Philadelphia in 2008, as part of a campaign against speeding motorists. The technique has also been tried out in China to create floating 3D crossings. In India, cities such as Ahmedabad and Chennai have already experimented with 3D zebra crossings in the last one year. In Ahmedabad for instance, a mother and her daughter, both artists, have painted 3D crosswalks in the first few months of 2016. The artists say their motto is “to increase the attention of drivers”, and that the concept (理念) has been successfully tested in accident-prone zones (事故多发区) on a highway.

However, critics argue that once drivers know that these speed breakers are visual illusions, they may ignore them. Others also point out that India’s decision does not consider the safety of a large number of pedestrians. In the end, the new policy may be just one step towards improving road safety.

Tips for Preparing to Drive in Britain

When you’re planning on travelling a large distance in a short amount of time, the best way to transport yourself is by car. 【小题1】 In order to legally drive in the UK, you must adequately prepare yourself before attempting to get a UK driver’s license.

【小题2】

Some may wonder why the British driving requirements are much stricter than America’s. This answer all comes down to the history of how this country was set up. Hundreds of years ago, there weren’t motor vehicles. The windy and narrow roads were created mainly for carriages. 【小题3】

Learning the Lingo (术语)

While preparing for the UK driver’s testing, one of the most important aspects to focus on is learning what certain words, phrases, and signs mean while on the road. Many times, there will merely be a sign without words that you will have to obey. 【小题4】

Passing the Tests

The first test is the theory test. Within two years of passing this test, you will need to take the practical test. 【小题5】 You should feel confident to pass each test and be comfortable driving on dangerous streets of the UK.

Every driver loves sailing through a series of green lights without having to stop and wait at a traffic light. Now, thanks to artificial intelligence, German researchers have found a way to reduce time spent at intersections (十字路口).

Called the KI4LSA project and funded by the Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, the innovation is being tested. Scientists first studied algorithms (算法) taken from a busy intersection to learn about traffic patterns and where improvements were most needed. There is a great necessity to speed up waiting times at intersections as conventional methods are inflexible, according to the Fraunhofer Institute.

The new AI method uses radar sensors and high-resolution cameras to interpret traffic patterns in real-time. They can determine the speed of traffic as well as waiting times and combine this with self-learning algorithms. Scientists are currently trying this out at a busy intersection in Lemgo, Germany, with encouraging results.

The intelligent lights are said to improve traffic flow by 10 to 15 percent, which results in money saved; the EU estimates that traffic jams create economic damage that adds up to 100 billion euros a year. Aside from reducing commuting time, these traffic lights will reduce noise and CO₂ emissions from cars idling at intersections.

Another exciting development in this research is the K14PED project, which studies pedestrians crossing intersections. Using AI, researchers can identify how many people are waiting at a pedestrian crossing and whether some of these people will need extra time to cross the street. Using a 3D points cloud, they can tell if someone has disabilities or is elderly without identifying the individual. Since pedestrian buttons that are presently at intersections cannot determine if some people have special needs or are elderly, this is a real win. Such a needs-based system could reduce pedestrian waiting time by 30 percent, which could then decrease jaywalking (乱穿马路) by 25 percent.

Testing will be done until the summer of 2022 in the German towns of Lemgo and Bielefeld, with researchers optimistic that it will be adopted by many countries. This technology is exciting news for pedestrians and drivers alike. It encourages safety, protects the environment, and may even give you more time to enjoy your morning coffee before heading off to work!