Speed Bumps of the Future: Creepy Optical Illusion Children

[jnelsoninjax]

Today, West Vancouver officials will roll out a new way to keep drivers alert and slow them down: a little girl speed bump. A trompe-l'œil, the apparently 3D girl located near the École Pauline Johnson Elementary School is actually a 2D pavement painting, similar to the one shown here.

In what sounds like a terrifying experience, the girl's elongated form appears to rise from the ground as cars approach, reaching 3D realism at around 100 feet, and then returning to 2D distortion once cars pass that ideal viewing distance. Its designers created the image to give drivers who travel at the street's recommended 18 miles per hour (30 km per hour) enough time to stop before hitting Pavement Patty–acknowledging the spectacle before they continue to safely roll over her.

The illusion is part of a $15,000 safety program that will run this week, led by the BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation and the public awareness group Preventable.ca. As drivers approach, the police will monitor the fake girl's effects. Despite fears that drivers may stop suddenly or swerve into actual 3D children, David Duane of the BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation told CTV news that the bump was meant to bring attention to driver-caused pedestrian injuries, and that the fake girl should not cause accidents:

"It's a static image. If a driver can't respond to this appropriately, that person shouldn't be driving…."

Source

[Solid Knight]

This might backfire as people get used to the image not being real and becoming less attentive to children in the road.

[Gabureiru]

cool, I like them

[Ently]

I wonder how many points I get if I hit two of these in a row!

[Richteralan]

apparetnly

Shadow settings is disabled.

I prefer HQ soft-edge Shadows please.

[Unimatrix Xero]

ok what happens if:

driver isnt paying attention, sees the little girl and then swerves to avoid her then crashes the car, this being overseas no doubt we would see the driver trying to sue the local council

[amon91]

This might backfire as people get used to the image not being real and becoming less attentive to children in the road.

That's a very good point. Wondering if this might backlash in the long term.

[ozgeek]

This might backfire as people get used to the image not being real and becoming less attentive to children in the road.

+1

What about regular drivers? They will just ingore it and speed and even spread the word that the girl is not real.

[wahoospa]

This seems to just set up situations to cause accidents to happen.

Maybe head on collisions if you swerve into the oncoming lane.

[Argote]

I agree that this is a bad idea overall, it can CAUSE accidents by creating sudden reactions to the girls AND it makes drivers learn that these kids are fake, when a real one is there they won't stop, it's like the boy who cried wolf.

[shakey]

"OH CRAP A LITTLE GIRL IN THE ROAD!!!" *turns to the right* *thump* "OH CRAP, I HIT ANOTHER LITTLE GIRL ON THE OTHER SIDE!!".... I don't think the road is where we want to be "scaring people straight" :p

[Crisp]

This will cause gun crime to increase.

[-KJ]

This will cause gun crime to increase.

I like the way you think.

[shakey]

I like the way you think.

or maybe pedophiles to start molesting cement..... oh the horror

[Nihilus]

This might backfire as people get used to the image not being real and becoming less attentive to children in the road.

+1

Not to mention the fact that it's going to be, at best, distracting. At worst, as someone above pointed out, it might make particularly jitter people swerve or do something stupid.

[primexx]

i've read a handful of articles on this by now and every single one has comment sections absolutely full of the same response that it's a retarded idea. whoever came up with that should be held liable for all the damage/deaths that might occur because of it.

[Darth Laidher]

This might backfire as people get used to the image not being real and becoming less attentive to children in the road.

True, ah hell its just one of those paintings again, then they speed up and hit someone lol.

[-KJ]

or maybe pedophiles to start molesting cement..... oh the horror

That's a bit of a stretch.

Heh :shifty:

Edit: Referring to what the person would actually see: a stretched image. Before someone gets the wrong idea. :rofl:

[techbeck]

After the first few heart attacks, accidents, and accidental deaths....well, you get the idea. Besides, as soon as people know what it is...game over.

Also, you would have to repaint that thing often as skid marks and tire tracks are a dead give away the painting isnt real.

[ahmz]

This might just be the dumbest thing I've seen all year.

[Steven P. Administrators]

This might just be the dumbest thing I've seen all year.

+1

[Nick H. Supervisor]

This will cause gun crime to increase.

I like the way you think.

Maybe it's too early in the morning, but I'm not sure I understand the thought process on that one...

[Zickar]

I wonder how many points I get if I hit two of these in a row!

Hehehe ...

But yeah good luck as people get more confused about whether this is true or not and end up slowing down (But not stopping) in front of playing children and end up running them all over .. Hurray :D

[Growled Member]

This might backfire as people get used to the image not being real and becoming less attentive to children in the road.

Good point.