The innovative 3D pedestrian crossing that will make you brake instinctively

In urban areas drivers must keep their speed low to prevent accidents, especially at junctions and pedestrian crossings with heavy foot traffic. Normally, these areas are covered with speed bumps to stop people from speeding.

In Iceland they have come up with a solution that is far more innovative and effective: a pedestrian crossing that looks three-dimensional thanks to an optical illusion that forces the driver to slow down as they approach it.

This revolutionary pedestrian crossing has been painted in Ísafjörður, a small fishing town of around 3,000 inhabitants located in Iceland (in the Northwest Fjords region). What is curious about this crossing is that its stripes appear to float above the road surface, creating a three-dimensional effect that makes drivers more cautious as they approach.

The creator of this pedestrian crossing is Gautur Ivar Halldorsson, manager of the company Vegamálun GÍH and in charge of painting streets in Ísafjörður. These were Halldorsson’s own words in an email interview:

There is so much talk about the pedestrian crossing that I think we have raised awareness about speed limits all across Iceland. The optical effect only works from a certain angle and for a few seconds

It should be said that this is not the first time someone has had an idea like Halldorsson’s. In fact, the Icelander was inspired by a similar pedestrian crossing located in New Delhi (India). That crossing has been so well received by the Indian public that the city council plans to paint 24 more across the city.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X0RbIrLhoo