# 3-D painted crosswalk slows down speeders **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 27, 2017, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943 "2017-10-27T02:36:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/1 "2017-10-27T02:36:51Z")
This is so clever! The crosswalk is an optical illusion painting. As you approach it, it seems to present a physical obstacle. [Town in Iceland Paints 3D Zebra Crosswalk To Slow Down Speeding Cars](https://www.boredpanda.com/3d-pedestrian-crossing-island/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=dmblog) > [@](#): > > …Not only does the innovative design give foot-travelers the feeling of walking on air, it also gets the attention of drivers, who will be sure to slow down their speed once they spot the seemingly floating ‘zebra stripes.’ … Check out the picture–very cool (Iceland-cool, get it?). Take a look at the video, too, if you have time. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/2 "2017-10-27T04:18:32Z")
😕 No links to the pictures or the video. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/3 "2017-10-27T04:23:37Z")
I got the pix. That is so interesting, who woulda thunk it? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/4 "2017-10-27T04:47:08Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > 😕 No links to the pictures or the video. There’s several pictures with the video embedded at the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/5 "2017-10-27T04:52:52Z")
Weird. Some combination of my adblockers was blocking the link. I see it now after turning them off. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/6 "2017-10-27T04:56:41Z")
Wow! Really good idea, at least for a place with a lot of one-time traffic. I’m guessing if it was on a road you travel every day it wouldn’t fool you too many times 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/7 "2017-10-27T05:02:40Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > 😕 No links to the pictures or the video. If the link I imbedded doesn’t work, google > [@](#): > > iceland 3d zebra crosswalk One of those links should work. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/8 "2017-10-27T05:05:43Z")
No, I got it now after shutting off one of my adblockers. Very cool effect. It even looks like it arches slightly in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/9 "2017-10-27T10:25:47Z")
Looks kind of like a Salvador Dali painting… ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/10 "2017-10-27T10:28:55Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > This is so clever! The crosswalk is an optical illusion painting. As you approach it, it seems to present a physical obstacle. > > [Town in Iceland Paints 3D Zebra Crosswalk To Slow Down Speeding Cars](https://www.boredpanda.com/3d-pedestrian-crossing-island/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=dmblog) > Check out the picture–very cool (Iceland-cool, get it?). Take a look at the video, too, if you have time. That is really cool, and so is the music in the video- sounds like Rory Gallagher Jr. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/11 "2017-10-27T10:53:53Z")
I fear that the cleverness might itself be an illusion. It looks like the 3-d effect doesn’t really kick in until you’re close enough to the crosswalk that a speeder wouldn’t have time to slow down. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/12 "2017-10-27T13:20:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I fear that the cleverness might itself be an illusion. It looks like the 3-d effect doesn’t really kick in until you’re close enough to the crosswalk that a speeder wouldn’t have time to slow down. The car in the video didn’t slow down. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/13 "2017-10-27T17:23:49Z")
What does it look like from the other direction? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/14 "2017-10-27T17:29:17Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > What does it look like from the other direction? Do I have to do everything for you? :dubious: [![](https://i.imgur.com/K3Op4iY.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/K3Op4iY.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/15 "2017-10-27T17:44:13Z")
In the [second picture in OP’s link](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/3D-pedestrian-crossing-island-59f038c5d0cad__880.jpg) — is that a little monkey in the picture or what? in front of the second zebra stripe. It sure ain’t a zebra! I expect that most SDMB readers, well-read and worldly wise lot that we are, have seen [this picture](https://clevercookies.edublogs.org/files/2010/10/zebra-crossing-l.jpg) of a zebra crossing. There’s also [this zebra crossing](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/02/27/article-0-11F07D0D000005DC-407_634x466.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/16 "2017-10-27T17:59:59Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Do I have to do everything for you? :dubious: > [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](https://i.imgur.com/K3Op4iY.jpg) Yes. Now, get that bathroom cleaned and do the laundry! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/17 "2017-10-27T18:49:45Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Yes. Now, get that bathroom cleaned and do the laundry! Hmmm…I’m actually at my mother’s assisted living facility doing her laundry. _\_ Is there a camera in here? I usually come on Saturday, but today they’re having the annual Dog Halloween Costume Contest, and it is a [del]hoot[/del] woof. If I get some good pics, ill post them. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/18 "2017-10-28T04:05:14Z")
Is that a one way street? The effect is only maintained from one direction. From the other direction it seem less clear than a standard crosswalk that it’s meant to be a crosswalk. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-painted-crosswalk-slows-down-speeders/799943/19 "2017-10-28T15:32:02Z")
I’ve seen a picture of a crosswalk with a tromp l’eye 😉 painting of a child in walking across it, meant to accomplish the same thing. At the right angle of approach it was quite striking. Tangentially, I remember from the book _Traffic_ that localities have used child-associated physical objects placed near intersections to slow traffic (eg tricycles). (Even more tangentially, they just put a tiny roundabout on the intersection near my house, and I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out how the traffic engineers could sign the damn thing better. I’m coming to the conclusion that speed bumps on the approach would be the best — people are taking the damn thing too fast. But maybe creative street painting would work…) PS: I guess it’s _trompe l’oeil_, and googling “trompe l’oeil crosswalk” gets some interesting image results.