This just seems wrong. From Illusion of danger a radical way to cut speed:
Roads could be altered to appear more dangerous to drivers in a radical new attempt to slow down traffic without the need for speed bumps.Streets would be remodelled to deliberately increase uncertainty in drivers’ minds, as part of the novel psychological approach to cutting vehicle speeds.
Government-funded researchers believe the measures could have the same effect on motorists as road humps.
They include narrowing roads, blurring pavement edges and removing white lines from the middle of roads.
The researchers said the changes would prompt drivers to automatically slow down because they would fear straying on to the edge of the road or risk a head-on collision.
Trees could also be planted on the edges of roads to break up sightlines.
Experts at the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) believe the measures could cost much less than speed humps, which are hated by many drivers and residents.
Does it work?
Elements of the technique have already been pioneered in parts of England.These include the removal of central white lines on suburban roads in Wiltshire, which cut accidents by a third.