In the area of traffic psychology there remains many sub spots of this area. There are many to list, however I'm going to refrain by mentioning only five of the spots that I had surfed. The areas that I looked into was convoys, driving personality, driving makeover, pedestrian traffic and aloha on the streets. At first, I took the opinions of the local surfers what they thought about these topics. Most of the was pretty interesting and I did write a report about. However, that particular group, I believe their surf team name was Team Generation One, took on traffic topics that affect the way we drive according to Hawaii standards. That's is very important being that I also live in Hawaii. Yet, I wanted to see if other places in this world have interests in these spots and took the time to specify what they found out and how it deals with them. These do sound like topics that would be a waste of time and I believe that is true because these are also topics we tend to overlook when we are in the process of it. That's why I'm looking for outside resources other than Hawaii that took time to expose the importance of these topics in light of our physical and mental safety when in the motion of any type of traffic.
In order to find articles of the subject I was looking, I had to resort to the search engines that are provided on the web. If you have been reading my latest weekly reports, one would know that my engine of choice was the McKinley search engine. There I attempted to try my first search on a topic that I researched through generation one and that topic was convoys. I really didn't specific convoy material. However I managed to obtain some homepages that dealt with the engineering of the traffic situations and I even managed to stumble over Peter Delin's Homepage where he places somewhat of a math problem that includes traffic. I'll get to that in a moment but first the technical stuff.
CONVOYS
The first page that I came across of was AEM page about
"intelligent"
traffic lights. I'll try to explain it in simple terms. What this company did
was they had set a in the road around one of the busier stadiums in their area.
The device then keeps a record of the traffic that went on in the area and then
sends that information to a computer where it can be analyzed. From that
point, the engineers can work with the results to assess how they can make the
traffic siltations better and safer for possibly both transports of automobiles
and pedestrians. The only draw back of this device so far that it's only in
the prototype stage where the project is being done in certain areas.
Everyone needs to feel safe at all times and in this case on the streets. With this device in the works, that could enhance more positivity on the streets. In terms of traffic psychology, this device could alleviate the stress one could have when confronted with a stressful traffic situation. Having those negative thoughts out of the in result of this device, could give the person more time on working on developing a better attitude towards the situation that's in front of them. As the process of the domino affect continues, that positive energy and reflect on the actual senrimotor portion of the driving, leading to the grand result of having a excellent and positive driver. If this device can influence the other drivers towards positive driving then by all means, get that thing to Hawaii!
TRAFFIC
The next site to viewed is from a page done by a company called Pflum
Klausmeier & Gerrum Consultants, Inc. Or in other words PKG. Their
homepage consisted of an outline that previewed what their company is doing to
try and better the traffic situation. Within those subjects are links to which
you can look into more specifically in their outline. The one topic that can
help the quest to getting traffic psychology noticed was their link to the
Traffic Impact Studies program. In this study, they conduct every study they
can imagine that has to deal with the current and ongoing processes of the
traffic situations. From there they go to team that they to decide where to go
once the information is gathered. Much like the process of the previous
company, they then turn to the computers to analyzes what they had found and
then act accordingly. Like most companies, they ensure that they abide by the
highest standards in terms of treating this problem of traffic. This is to
show that everything is trying to be done in order for everyone to feel safe
while in traffic.
Rather than being the engineers that they are, it seems they could be doing a psychology experiment for us traffic psychologist. Let's see how this can by worded. Well, the company didn't say how old they were so let's pretend that they are a new engineering firm. Now, let's take the years that the fonding member of this person as see what possibly could have given him that vision. I would assume that the reason that the founder or founders started this firm because they were taken in a negative way by how bad the traffic. So that observation of the bad traffic could of been their control group. It would be a group that was going the harshness of traffic without their vision of a good type of intervention that their firm could provide. Next, after the firm has been formed and acted on their passions to change the way traffic, they would then have accumulated a experimental group to see if their was any improvement from the time they didn't have the firm and couldn't do anything about the traffic to post firm formation where actions were taken and recorded to advance in better traffic conditions. It's too bad that they didn't have any such record of web files to see if invention in bettering the traffic does really help the traffic situations. I they did and exposed it to the public then drivers who had access to such information will feel better because of the actual involvement in seeing that their intervention did work and will continue to work with the help of the public. Again with this positivity flowing through the body and mind, the driver then react accordingly leading to a better driving persona which then leads to a safer traffic environment.
RAIL AND TRANSIT
Another site the I found after typing in convoy in the search engines was
a page on rails and transit systems on
how it would better the congestion that
is occurring daily. In better detail of the article, on the homepage, click on
the link that says Auto/Transit Concept. I shall now summarize what that link
has to offer in terms of better this traffic problem.
The goal of this proposal was to eliminate all pollution and congestion that occurs of the street. The inventor or creator of such in idea was in individual from Denmark named Palle R. Jensen. Here, he or she, I don't know what kind of a name Palle is but he had this idea to have electronic cars or transports that can be either be driven as a regular car or be attached to rail and be powered by the rail system. This rail system was ideally for long distance travel and also designed to reach the dentition with the traffic that has to be dealt with if the choice of transportation is non-rail. Vehicles that take more passengers than the average car would be stickily confined to the rail system. For instance the bus would be a part of the a rail transit system of some sort. Every type of conveniency would be offered for better flow of the project. Such services provided would be easier parking facilities for those using the transit system and everyone that does put these rail to use would have some sort card where all access control information about the user will be on for better communication between transit company and driver. If you're wondering what type of funding would fuel this type of project, a toll fee would be asked of each user. If all works well, then everything that has to do with the traffic that we are experiencing now would be reduced dramatically. As the article claims, "close to zero."
I would really hate to repeat myself when it comes to revealing the relevance this has to traffic psychology. So I won't. All I have to say it that it serve the same traffic psychological purpose as the last two articles presented. I tries to bring back the simple piece of mind back to the streets. It's trying to create something that can clear up the mess that we created in this traffic hell world. I obvious that we can't move backwards to bring back the safety on the streets we once had a long time ago. However, in our movement to advance, lately, we've been really messing things up. Just look at the traffic and read environmental articles and things that are related and you will see that this traffic crisis is our human creation and we have to find some way to end this type of insanity. That's were this project previously summarize would not only assure better traffic psychologist but the whole world structure. There all related and once one fixed then the trend will continue.
MATH AND TRAFFIC
I guess that is enough of the serious stuff about what I found in terms of
convoy related web pages. Let's go to the Peter Delin's Page who exposed a
math logic problem with traffic involved. There is no way so summarize this
page without revealing the whole problem word for word. Basically his page is
filled with his theories on a few things that has to deal with life in general.
However, there is one section on his page that deal with traffic in terms of a
math problem. A sure page to check out. The real good thing about exposing
traffic in the light of math is that it draw out a better and more analytical
way of perceiving how bad traffic can be and also how it can be solved on a
small scale.
In psychology, experiments has to be done through any type of statistical study. It adds more truth to what's being study over someone who just explains through talk how something could be. Having such a statistical problem open to view to us about traffic can show people how valid some of these proposals are when it comes to solving traffic problems. A lot of the times when constructors say that they are going to fix a certain part of the street to better the traffic, they most of the times don't explain in much needed detail why they are doing this and how they came up with the reasons why we need that type of work done.
That was only a few articles that was found on the net. If I would of stocked up on the sun tan lotion and kept on "surfing" the net, I most probably would have found a whole bunch of stuff on driving. However, as mentioned in my previous reports, there's more to traffic psychology than what is behind the wheel of a car. There's people traffic too. Otherwise known as pedestrian traffic. Once on the net, there were a lot to chose from. However, when I tried to go back so some of those spots, they were difficult to long on to. Either it was busy on the days that I went or the computer just doesn't like me. That's okay, I'm not hurt...sniff, sniff. I do have good news to bring in terms of pedestrian traffic. I did manage to two pages that catered to the rights, duties and safety of pedestrians. Here it is on a silver platter.
PEDESTRIANS
In the search engine, I typed in pedestrian traffic and came across a page
done by the School of
Law from Indiana University. That page consisted of many
law related topics that can be clicked on. Just so happed when the search
engine revealed that their home page had pedestrian traffic on it, I was sent
directly to it and I'll do the same for you. On this page contained
pedestrians rights and duties. I gave a list about ten and it showed a excerpt
from to give the riders and idea what they are about to click on to. I click
on a few and the information given in each in contained large amounts of
information. Too much to summarize. However, listed was statements dealing
with the of car vs. pedestrian. The way these rights and duties were listed
seemed as though they were actual laws in the state of Indiana. So I guess it
is safe to say that information listed are true and could be possibly used in a
court of law if felt violated in the state of Indiana.
Having these rules posted for all to see is very good. It gives every individual the information they need to know when it comes to being a pedestrian. However I see a down side to this type of information. When someone is exposed to their rights, that person has options to be mature about the rights given or they can be reckless about it and use these rights for excuses to act immaturely. The reason I bring this up is that there are a lot of pedestrian that abuse their rights. They feel that they are almost invincible to their surroundings. For instance some cross the streets when ever they feel like or just walk wherever they feel like despite the situations at hand. I know there are people out there because I at some points are like that. With that I believe that these rights and alter a persons psyche. Giving these rights to people gives a sense of power against the system. Having that kind of running though a persons mind can influence the actions that can follow. For instance if the law says that any car that hits a pedestrian is liable no matter the situation, that gives the pedestrian a certain power to take more chances on the street as pedestrian rather than if they weren't exposed to the law. That would be another good experiment to do. Have a group of individuals who are aware of their rights as a pedestrian and observe there actions for along period of time to see how they react in certain situations. That would be the experimental group. The control group would be the one that has no idea what their rights are as an individual. The hypothesis for that experiment would be that I believe that the people who know theirs as a pedestrian will take more chances on the street than the people who no idea what their rights are.
BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS
The next page dealt with environmental and safety concerns for not only
the pedestrian but for the bicyclist too. This page done by a group in
North
Central Texas who's main concern with the present situation of the
environment.
They projected on their page that in order to lower the pollution that is
filling up the air, the only alternative is to promote both bicycle and
pedestrian travel. Having that in mind, that's where the safety concern of
this group come in. If this does increase in a big manner than safety
precautions have to presented to those involved. If these safety rules are
followed by those involved with the new idea of traveling and are noticed by
those who are still engaging in the destructive act of the old ways of
traveling, in this case it would be the automotive transports, then the
confidence to work this type of lifestyle of traveling will grow stronger.
This page also has specific information about their organization and other likable information. The other information include such important topics like safety reports for cyclers and pedestrians. They seminars and facility planning and design manuals for everyone to read. The only problem with these links is that they take long to connect. In my case I never connected again after the first try. Maybe others will have better luck and I will give them the link to give their luck a try.
It's great to think that there's people out there who are concerned with the safety of human beings. There are people who are concerned, there is no question about that. These people who done the page and took the time expose there contribution to the safety of others is a very noble thing to do. They probably did it because they feel that this place is a dangerous place for people who travel in other manners than the car. Such behavior must be influenced in order for their plan to work. What they must do and I believe they are doing this with this page is that they have to get into the people cognitive workshop in order for them to understand that there is a problem out there. Next, they would have to make them realize that if they don't react accordingly that a dangerous transporting world is what will result. What goes through an individual's mind in very influential to how they react after those thoughts are processed. As mentioned before, if the information is given to the public then the minds will change in some people and with much hope, those people can influence the others. Come on people. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to become a traffic psychologist. All you need is a little happiness in your body to influence the rest...no drugs needed.
DRIVING MAKEOVER
Speaking of making one's body happy, a driving makeover is always a start
to improving your attitude on the driving wheel. As I plowed through the net,
I came across a page that had concerns with there driving and was wondering if
there's courses that help to better the driver in one's self. Well, all those
questions were on a page called High Performance
Course Ltd.. On that page I
went to a FAQ file because I thought I could get a better look at the people
who write to this page wondering about making their driving better. Well, to
my surprise, a lot of them a had questions about automotive racing. For
instance there were questions about how to control the car while speeding and
other questions of how to me more competitive. Doesn't sound like safe driving
to me. Anyhow, there were one or two questions about normal everyday driving
and safety. The one question that stood out the most that had any connection
to the topic at hand was question 13. Oh how eerie. Anyway, they asked why
defensive driving for the family? That's a pretty stupid question however it
still came with a full answer.
The need for defensive driving is because of the dangerous traffic situations that occur. To be prepared for such things, people must be on their best defence in order remain somewhat in the realm of safety. This course would also teach you how to look out for others as much as you look out for yourself. Presented in this course is also the need to be patient to reduce the any type of irrational actions that can occur in negative times. On top of the obvious good driving skills that needs to be done, they bring to the class the necessity to prepare yourself before you hit the road.
Oh my god! Presented in this article is almost exactly what we are taught in traffic psychology. In the article under the number 13, it mentions specifically that driving involves awareness, anticipation, responsibility, care, courtesy and safety. I believe if I gather this correctly that anticipation and responsibility could fall under the cognitive level of traffic psychology. Applying your mind to react a certain way later on has the make up of making your body react the way your mind is thinking. That then leads to the care and safety because your mind is telling your body to act positive in all situation on the streets to better harmonize the situations at hand. In the area of affective involvement, awareness and courtesy play a part in influencing the self to be good on the streets so that you won't run into any kind of trouble both with the car and fellow drivers and pedestrians of all sorts.
There were other topics that was needed to be covered. The other topics consisted of driving personality and aloha on the streets. As I searched high and low for these topics, I really couldn't find anything on the search engines. A lot of the times I mostly got the homepages of the generation one file and I believe I already presented information from that file. However, with all the article that were presented, it could present information that can reveal what kind of personality you have with the reactions of these proposed ideas of better traffic scenario. If all this info seems useless and you don't think it'll work without giving it a shot, then you probably have a negative outlook on the driving situation leading to a bad attitude when it comes to the streets. Then it time to have a driving makeover. Maybe the driving course could be of some service. Then if you better your personality from a good driving makeover plan then we can try and bring back the Aloha in the streets. That was another topic that wasn't found on the net.
Well that's all I have to offer for now in my surfing expedition. I think
I'm going to go towel off and head to Zippy's for a Zippac because I am
starving!
What do you think?
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