The Praxeology and Ethics of Traffic Lights

mises.org...

Martin Cassini, a photographer and advocate for road deregulation, has produced a marvelous series of videos documenting the results of the Cabstand Junction Trial that started in September of 2009 in North Somerset, in Great Britain. The videos, which can be viewed on his website FitRoads.com and on YouTube, show the remarkable before and after results of the experiment.

Without traffic lights regulating intersections, congestion has disappeared and accidents are virtually nonexistent. With the exception of a few who still assume right of way, drivers are courteous and give way to pedestrians and other drivers.

This may come as a shock to those who believe in the state, but not to Austrians. This phenomenon can be explained by applying the principles developed in Hans-Hermann Hoppe's theory of argumentation ethics. Both cooperation and empathy are not only part of human nature but are things that must exist within any rational being. It is, as Murray Rothbard put it, the unification of "is" and "ought," of economics and ethics, of the actions that people do perform for their own selfish desires and the actions they should perform for the good of others.

This was simply amazing, people didn't need traffic lights for things to work smoothly. It's just another place that government stuck its head into and made far worse than it previously was. Less accidents, less congestion and less waiting time will make people far more happy.

It's amazing how great people truly are, the state tries to convince you that all people are naturally completely selfish and greedy but in the real world this can't be farther from the truth.

BUMP

reply to post by Misoir


Misoir, this little video was worth watching. There's a good lesson in this experiment and it's a heartwarming result.

As for the title of this thread -- "praxeology" isn't an everday word for me. The study of human action & conduct, according to Webster's.

And the word "Ethics" -- I suspect people are afraid they will get a sermon. (So much bad behavior seems to be condoned in our society nowadays.)

I've only posted one thread here on ATS, so I'm hardly the one to go to for snappy thread titles.

reply to post by SeaWind


Don't let it discourage you my friend, a title is just a title, it's the richness within that you must seek.

The video was well worth watching and the snippet was worth a read.

We are told that we should use the title from the link for the title of the thread anyways so I just followed the rules.

Interesting video.

Do you know of anywhere that has an explanation of how the junction actually works? or an aerial view?
I'm wondering how different it is from a conventional mini roundabout.

I'm also wondering if the drivers are just being extra cautious because they are driving on something unfamiliar and as soon as they get used to it the chaos will resume. I once came across a contraflow roundabout and you can bet I was cautious pulling out of that, I very nearly went the wrong way around it

Originally posted by Misoir
reply to post by SeaWind

 

Don't let it discourage you my friend, a title is just a title, it's the richness within that you must seek.

The video was well worth watching and the snippet was worth a read.

We are told that we should use the title from the link for the title of the thread anyways so I just followed the rules.

Oh oh, I did not follow the rules. But it seems to me many people here ignore the rules when it comes to thread titles.

reply to post by davespanners


I do not know the specifics and I do believe this is the only video so no aerial shots. But I know this was tested for about 3 months and proved a great success. Try researching more into the subject, you will probably find additional links and resources which might help answer your questions better than I.

reply to post by Misoir


good lord, how awesome is that.

epic.

I found this youtube of a computer model of it in operation



It looks like a 4 way junction that is kind of split in half with islands in the middle that make it easier to make a right hand turn because you only have to go across one lane at a time. I'm still not sure who has the right of way at each junction though

BUMP