# Engineering for different countries / cultures - examples **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 19, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653 "2022-05-19T00:24:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/61 "2022-05-21T18:27:28Z")
I like roundabouts more than stop signs. (When traffic is extremely heavy, lights sometimes work better, but roundabouts can replace many lights, too.) The biggest issue with roundabouts, as best as i can tell, is that they take more space. And if there’s already stuff in the corners, it’s hard to build a roundabout. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/62 "2022-05-21T19:33:35Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > The biggest issue with roundabouts, as best as i can tell, is that they take more space. And if there’s already stuff in the corners, it’s hard to build a roundabout. Very true. Which is why most roundabouts are built in the outer suburbs or rural areas, since those generally have more room. Carmel IN is a good example. It has 140, its neighboring northern suburbs have about 100 combined, and there’s a bunch more in other suburbs. Indianapolis, OTOH, has only 16\*. Another example is that New York City only has two\*\* and it’s kind of amzing they managed to find space for those two. Even the nearby suburbs of NY don’t have very many. \*Most of Indianapolis’ roundabouts are in the south. I haven’t checked the history of the area, but it’s virtually certain that that area was developed much more recently than the rest. \*\*Not Columbus Circle or either of the other two at the corners of Central Park. Those are signalized traffic circles. (Roundabouts don’t have signals.) One of the two is in the Bronx and the other in Queens. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/63 "2022-05-21T20:07:57Z")
> [@Mops](#): > > Specifically four-way stops are something I as an European would have a lot of difficulties with - because for me encountering a stop sign _automatically_ means the crossing road has the right of way. > [@dtilque](#): > > To avoid that situation in the US, 4-way stops often have a small sign underneath saying “all-way” or “4-way”. Not every such intersection has them, though. > > There’s a 2-way intersection I sometimes go through that’s kind of the opposite. It used to be 4-way. The last time they changed it, they put a sign below that says “cross traffic does not stop”. It is incredibly stupid that in the U.S. the “STOP” sign used for a 4-way stop is _the same sign_ used at a 2-way stop. Exacerbated by the fact that 4-way stop junctions are far more common. At a less common 2-way stop, where you must both stop AND yield, you must deduce this fact either from the _absence_ of a small modifying sign underneath “STOP” that _would_ say “4-way”, or by peering at the other street to see if you can discern the _back_ of a STOP sign for the crossing traffic. I’ve personally seen numerous near misses caused by this idiocy. Rather than address the fundamental flaw that creates this safety issue, after numerous crashes occur at a given junction, as you describe they end up putting up a huge additional sign saying “CROSS TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP”. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/64 "2022-05-21T20:13:51Z")
That article is completely misleading, and was obviously written by someone who doesn’t understand electricity. The bottom line is: Voltage creates current. For European household wiring at 220V the average shock is likely to create 2x the current of US household voltage at 110V. Than makes getting shocked by a faulty circuit much more dangerous than in the US. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/65 "2022-05-21T20:19:47Z")
Fwiw, i know any number of people who have been shocked in the US, including a surprising number who did it intentionally when they were little boys. I also shocked myself once when trying to wire in a disposal unit under the sink. So i know that it’s typically not a big deal. I also know that electrical devices are a significant contributor to house fires, and those are a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/66 "2022-05-21T20:22:44Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > when they were little boys Are you making the sexist assumption that only little _boys_ stick their fingers into electrical sockets? (If so, you would be correct.) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/67 "2022-05-21T20:24:07Z")
No, I am making a factual statement about the gender of the three people who have told me they did that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/68 "2022-05-21T21:10:16Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > That article is completely misleading, and was obviously written by someone who doesn’t understand electricity. > > The bottom line is: Voltage creates current. For European household wiring at 220V the average shock is likely to create 2x the current of US household voltage at 110V. Than makes getting shocked by a faulty circuit much more dangerous than in the US. Which one? I linked two articles. If, as you claim, voltage is what makes a shock dangerous, then why aren’t people dying left and right from static electric shocks? Those can be **tens of thousands** of volts. > **[staticelectricity.pdf](https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/hr/documents/public/hsu/information/electrical/staticelectricity.pdf)** > > 21.62 KB > **[The Shocking Truth Behind Static Electricity](https://www.livescience.com/4077-shocking-truth-static-electricity.html)** > > Learn how much power you have at your fingertips. [https://wihausa.tools/electrostatic-discharge/](https://wihausa.tools/electrostatic-discharge/) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/69 "2022-05-21T21:16:08Z")
Once again, it helps to know something about electricity. Shocks from static electricity are usually harmless, because the total charge is low. However, people get killed all the time by static electricity, in the form of lightning strikes. When the power source is capable of providing large amounts of power at high enough voltage to cause significant current to flow though the human body for extended periods of time, fatalities result. This is why high-voltage power supplies are so dangerous, and why low-voltage, high-current supplies (like a car battery) are safe. ETA: And, by the way, the current from a static electricity shock can be several amps peak. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/70 "2022-05-21T21:20:09Z")
As mentioned, round-abouts take a shit ton more room. We are getting more of them where I live, and they work much better for higher traffic. Or at intersections that have high traffic in only one direction with no stop sign. It gives the folks that have a stop sign a chance to get in/across. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/71 "2022-05-21T21:24:19Z")
> [@Bootb](#): > > If, as you claim, voltage is what makes a shock dangerous, then why aren’t people dying left and right from static electric shocks? Those can be **tens of thousands** of volts. While it may be correct to say that the size of the current is ultimately what kills you, the question is what factor determines or limits the size of that current in a given context. A taser has an enormously high voltage, but its intrinsic power limitation means that it _can_ only delivery a small current. Doubling or halving the voltage of a taser wouldn’t make a whole lot of difference - it’s still probably enough to drive the maximum possible current that the device _can_ deliver, and that maximum is small. Whereas a household circuit _does_ have the capability to deliver a large enough current to kill you. So _whether_ the amount of current from a household circuit is enough to kill you is determined (other things being equal) by the voltage. Other things being equal (whether you are wearing rubber boots vs standing barefoot in a puddle would obviously make a difference, for example), a 240V household circuit will drive more current through you than a 110V circuit. ETA - ninjaed ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/72 "2022-05-21T21:27:58Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > _boys_ stick their fingers into electrical sockets Guilty as charged. Working with my son on household electrical projects, twice in the last year I’ve felt some current…D’oh! and made it a teachable moment (don’t do this). I think he’s afraid to work with electricity now, period. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/73 "2022-05-21T23:42:44Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Long story long, gearing is selected based on the engine characteristics, torque and redline, and not common cruising speeds, as far as I know. I heard quite a few comments over the past years that gearing is nowadays optimized to get best EPA (et al) gas consumption numbers … so, geartrain is optimized to get the lowest consumption for 90 and 120km/h which are measuring points in europe … the measuring points might be different in the usa (where 120km/h is already speeding) hence mandating a different gear ratio of 'merica models. bear in mind, that diff ratios and tire-size also play into this equation (as those are also gears between the crankshaft and the asphalt), as every avid off-roader will happily tell you ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/74 "2022-05-22T00:03:39Z")
[Squat toilets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squat_toilet). ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/75 "2022-05-22T13:57:10Z")
Oh, absolutely. Fine example. And it tends to explain why some people want to stand on the toilet bowl and squat; they’re used to squatting not sitting. Hence the “do not stand on toilet bowl, please sit” signs. [![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0743/1033/products/T_6_large.jpg?v=1485218652) ](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0743/1033/products/T_6_large.jpg?v=1485218652) ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/76 "2022-05-22T14:11:14Z")
Or maybe they just do not want to sit on a nasty-ass toilet seat? Which makes one wonder why there simply is not a squat toilet there instead of that sign. Also, there should be at least a water line or pitcher of water available, in addition to toilet paper (or else people will be forced to clean themselves with dry t.p., assuming the supply does not run out). ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/77 "2022-05-22T15:02:16Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Which makes one wonder why there simply is not a squat toilet there instead of that sign. I’ve seen public restrooms with both, and each one had a sign demonstrating how you were to interact with it. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/78 "2022-05-22T17:50:28Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > The biggest issue with roundabouts, as best as i can tell, is that they take more space. And if there’s already stuff in the corners, it’s hard to build a roundabout. In the UK there are mini-roundabouts, basically a big white dot painted in the middle of the intersection plus some directional markings entering the intersection. The problem is that American drivers are having enough trouble adjusting to normal sized roundabouts that the mini versions would be a disaster (not to mention double minis or dog forbid Swindon…) Just yesterday I was yielding to a car in the roundabout when that driver came to a complete stop, causing traffic to snarl. Until everyone learns and follows the rules roundabouts in the US will be problematic. Are they doing PSAs in areas where a lot of roundabouts are being built? I see a lot in Scottsdale (AZ) but no instructions in how they work. When I learned to drive roundabouts did not exist so I never learned about them. Three weeks driving in the UK got me used to roundabouts (but double minis still threw me). ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/79 "2022-05-22T18:13:26Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > In the UK there are mini-roundabouts, basically a big white dot painted in the middle of the intersection plus some directional markings entering the intersection. The problem is that American drivers are having enough trouble adjusting to normal sized roundabouts that the mini versions would be a disaster There are mini-roundabouts in the US, but they’re much more elaborate than those British paint-spots. While they don’t have a central island, they do have a raised area in the middle that are only for large vehicles that can’t make the turn otherwise. Basically, the truck apron covers the entire middle. Here’s what one looks like (this is the roundabout in Queens I mentioned upthread): https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211s8aMuHiFMFdGELEuvoMk8sQ%212m2%211d40.6667179%212d-73.8479863%213f5.37%214f9.003%215f0.75 ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653/80 "2022-05-22T21:29:18Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > i know any number of people who have been shocked in the US, I and several people I know have had 240V shocks in the UK with no ill effect. AFAIK the main cause of injury from shocks is when the victim falls off a ladder or similar. AC current has the effect of making you pull away which is normally A Good Thing unless you are balancing on top of a ladder. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-for-different-countries-cultures-examples/964653.md?page=5)