Lab Report #1a<\p>
During the first couple of class sessions, we discussed several behaviors in pedestrian and automobile traffic. The three ideas I found to be provocative and interesting was the points made about convoys, pedestrian traffic, and role playing.<\p>The discussions on convoys stirred up many thoughts in my mind. I could understand and relate to the people who travel together for mutual protection or convenience. When I am traveling as a passenger with my boyfriend, I usually tell him that he should travel in the middle of a convoy if he is going to travel exceedingly over the speed limit. The reason for this (not so smart) advice is because I honestly believe that if you travel in the middle of the speeding group, the chances of getting caught by a police officer isn't as great as those traveling in the front or in the back of the convoy.<\p>
I can also understand the reasons for traveling in convoys. Many people believe that it's okay to travel at a higher speed when in a convoy because if a group of others are doing it, then it must be okay to do it too. A group of people, whether right or wrong, tend to have a great influence on others. People tend to conform to what may seem to be the majority. I, I'm sure like many other people, are greatly influenced by these wrongdoers.<\p>
The different types of pedestrian traffic which was mentioned in class also grabbed a hold of my attention. The example given about the pedestrians who cross over (the University Avenue/Metcalf Street crosswalk) at an angle helped me to become aware of some of the daily problems pedestrians encounter. The "barn yard" crossing is thought of as a short cut for some and a problem for others. It made me realize that pedestrians will find an easier and faster route eventhough it may inconvenience others.<\p>
The other type of pedestrian traffic problem which striked some interest and thought was the problem in stairways. I can relate to the pedestrian traffic problem in stairways because I have experienced and witnessed it numerous times. For example, as I walk up on the right hand side of the stairwell (a hand rail divides the right and the left side of the stairwell) there's always a few who choose to walk down on the left hand side, thus stopping the flow of traffic upward. People stopping in the middle of the stairwell to engage in a conversation also create traffic problems. In fact, I experienced this problem yesterday as I tried to walk up a set of narrow steps next to Crawford Hall. Two people stopped in the middle of the very last step to talk and did not have the sense to move on the side. The many people traveling in both directions tried to squeeze their way through to continue with their journey. It's amazing how one or two people can really throw off the system.<\p>
The discussion on the accordian effect was also of great interest to me. Before enrolling in this Traffic Psychology class, I never knew that there was such a term for the (changing) distances between cars. My mother taught me and constantly reminded me to keep a car length or several car lengths between me and the vehicle in front of me. The reason for this constant reminder was to keep me at a safe distance from the driver in front of me; if they were to make a sudden stop, I would have a little more time to think and stop without hitting the car in front of me. I, like Dr. James, feel that leaving ample amount of room in front of me sometimes defeats the purpose. Usually when I leave a car length space in front of me, other drivers see it as an advantage to get in front of me, thus dramatically decreasing the car space between us. If that driver was to make a sudden stop, I would definitely not have any time to think and stop; I would then be at fault because I would be the one rearending the driver.<\p>