Have Traffic Laws Gone Mad?

Do These Laws Make Sense? As engineers and police departments work to craft and maintain safe roads, people are sometimes left wondering why certain laws exist. Does this road really need to be one way? Does every corner need a stop sign? Are these annoying speed humps actually serving any purpose? In most cases, traffic laws are there for a good reason but in some cases, they are actually pretty off the wall.  Crazy Traffic Laws Some states have enacted laws that leave people scratching their heads. Some notable ones?  In Eureka, CA it’s illegal to sleep on the road In GA, it is against the law to drive through a playground In Sag Harbor, NY, it’s illegal to undress in your car In West Virginia, it’s against the law to eat road kill In CT, it’s illegal to shoot whales from your car In UT, there are birds that have the right of way In MA, it’s illegal to drive with a gorilla in the backseat Method to the Madness While outlawing using the road as a bed sounds preposterous, statistics on traffic safety and road accidents demonstrate that most traffic laws are enacted for a good reason. Lower speed limits on residential roads are not just arbitrary, they can actually save lives. One Swedish study found that after reducing speed limits, traffic fatalities were reduced even several years down the line. Keeping traffic moving at a safe, steady pace on residential roads can make the difference between a narrowly diverted accident and an untimely death. Maintening Safety Enacting appropriate speed limits is a great start but many studies find that speed limits alone do little to curb speeding drivers. Speed limits in conjunction with enforcement measures, however, can be powerful in creating safer roads and neighborhoods. Using speed limits in conjunction with road narrowing, speed humps, or speed indicator signs can ensure that the laws on your streets not only make sense but are adhered to.