Unruly traffic

An overreliance on rules and rigid enforcement may reduce, rather than enhance, traffic safety

Most of us like things to be simple. Our brain burns around 1/5 of all the energy we consume, and if there is a way we can get by without too much thinking, we will tend to feel rather attracted to it. Unsurprising, therefore, that a sizeable portion of our behaviour is guided (if not dominated) by rules. A dress code at work (no collarless shirts except on dress-down Fridays), social customs (bring flowers and/or wine when you’re invited to a dinner party), rules of etiquette (don’t pass gas when you are there), not to mention The Law. Without such rules we can just follow, we’d have to consider continually what is, and is not appropriate. Unfortunately, rules have some inherent flaws.

Rules and (their) limits

Rules can almost never cover every possible eventuality. That is particularly relevant when the rules are related to safety — our own and that of others. Jobs that involve handling hazardous materials or operating equipment that, when misused, can cause serious damage, are almost always governed by strict rules and regulations. But they are not about rigidly and blindly sticking to the rules, nothing less, nothing more, regardless of the circumstances. Anyone doing such a job must also…