# Did the ancient Roman Empire have traffic cops?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-ancient-roman-empire-have-traffic-cops/211816>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 7, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-ancient-roman-empire-have-traffic-cops/211816 "2003-11-07T02:32:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-ancient-roman-empire-have-traffic-cops/211816/1 "2003-11-07T02:32:03Z")

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It was a developed society - they had laws, politicians, currency, a government, running water, etc. So how were misdemeanors and civil violations policed and sanctioned?

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-ancient-roman-empire-have-traffic-cops/211816/2 "2003-11-07T04:53:27Z")

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Well [there is this](http://www.humantransport.org/bicycledriving/sciencepolitics.htm) little factoid. It sounds like people historically, have been able to get along without traffic cops until speeds increased to the point traffic flow control was needed.

> [@](#):
>
> Historical Background
> 
> Human beings have been constructing roadways for over six thousand years. Early roadways carried pedestrians, hoofed animals, and simple wheeled vehicles such as wagons. As traffic volumes grew, it became apparent that traffic regulations would be necessary for safety and efficiency. In ancient Rome, Julius Caesar banned wheeled traffic within the city during certain hours of the day to alleviate congestion. But because most traffic moved at the slow walking speed of humans or animals, collisions between road users could be avoided through observation and negotiation without official rules to establish right of way. In areas of high traffic, roadways would sometimes become unsuitable for pedestrians due to congestion, mud or animal waste. This led to the construction of sidewalks along the sides of urban roads to provide better conditions for walking.

[The book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0892366974/ref=ase_largeprintreview/102-3270994-4274504?v=glance&s=books)on ancient Rome has a section called “The traffic problem” that my have more info.