French village’s squiggle road design to slow speeding vehicles goes viral

In a bid to combat speeding and ensure safety, the picturesque French village of Baune, near the city of Angers, has resorted to the unconventional method of what can best be described as a squiggle road. Frustrated by the inability of traditional traffic signs to slow down drivers in their 30km/h (19mph) zone, local officials decided to paint peculiar squiggly lines on the road surface.

These seemingly abstract road markings, resembling something of an art project, were introduced following concerns over motorists consistently breaking the speed limit within the village. According to Baune’s mayor, Audrey Revereault, the aim is to “create a visual disturbance” for drivers and encourage them to reduce their speed. Surprisingly, this novel approach appears to be working, with drivers successfully adhering to the speed limit.

Jean-Charles Prono, the mayor of Loire-Authion, a group of seven villages that includes Baune, expressed the difficulty of slowing down fast drivers and the need for effective solutions. He mentioned that the goal is to “make it difficult to read the landscape,” thereby forcing drivers to pay closer attention to the road.

🚗 How the town of Bauné, France used psychology to combat speeding drivers #designsecrets pic.twitter.com/LLkGfRnPWY

— SK (@SvilenK) October 17, 2023

It’s worth noting that these peculiar markings are still in a trial phase to assess their effectiveness. Speed bumps were considered as an alternative but were overlooked due to concerns about creating noise disturbances for residents.

Locals have shared their mixed reactions to the squiggly road lines on a local Facebook page, ‘Ca bouge sur Bauné.’ While some found it challenging and unsettling to drive over these unconventional road markings, they seem to be achieving the desired effect in slowing down vehicles.

The world may not yet know the full impact of these abstract squiggles on road safety and driver behavior, but it’s safe to say they might confound autonomous driving systems. One thing is clear: Baune’s experiment has certainly sparked a conversation about innovative methods to control speeding and enhance road safety.

While it remains uncertain whether this squiggle road approach will gain traction worldwide, it serves as a quirky example of thinking outside the box to address road safety concerns.