Recently, new signs have been popping up in Stapleton neighborhoods in an effort to slow traffic. There are still an abundance of the turtle signs that we have become accustomed to in Stapleton as well as the “slow children at play” signs. The new signs simply seem to be more successful at slowing traffic.
The new signs show a child on a razor scooter with “rich children at play” instead of the old-school “SLOW, children at play.” “I saw these the other day when I was at Target,” says Stapleton resident Tom Christin. “We have tried a lot of other things, but I figured we might as well give these a try. So far, we have absolutely noticed a reduction in speed on our street.”
Tom does not have any ideas as to why these particular signs have been more effective, but Dr. Tammi Dean, a Psychology Professor for the University of Colorado, does offer some ideas. “First of all, people see those other signs all the time,” says Dean. “They are used to them, and therefore, ignore them. When they see a sign like this that is original, it may catch them off-guard, and they may slow down simply to take a second look.”
Other factors are at play as well, according to Dean. “Overall, people respect the wealthy in this country,” says Dean. “The wealthy are also often feared. So, the idea of possibly hitting a rich kid on an expensive Razor Scooter seems to carry a lot more ramifications than just hitting any kid.” The reputation of Stapleton precedes itself, so Dr. Dean says the signs also seem believable to drivers. According to Tom, drivers have driven about 10 miles per hour slower with the new signs. ]]>