Writer: Nuttawut Kulkaew

Editor: Wittaya Wonglor

Graffiti could be an unexpected accident prevention tool, in tune with how pedestrians and motorists see and think. Art is visually appealing and can communicate through color and design. It can share ideas and stories unique to each community.

Street art can help reduce accidents and enhance livability, whether painted, sprayed, or made with other techniques. A 3D crosswalk painted in New Delhi prompted 40% of drivers to cut their speed from 50 down to 30 km/h. Street art in Kansas brought a 45% reduction in speeding at an intersection. A case study on street art’s impact on traffic in Arizona found that decorating road surfaces helped drivers follow traffic rules. Their likelihood of stopping at a barrier rose from 27% to 34%. Drivers who pulled up straight away at a sign climbed from 69% to 82%.

Street art can also safeguard pedestrians by extending pedestrian areas. Expanding pavement boundaries helps pedestrians cross the road faster. A survey from Milan in Italy found that pedestrians who felt "very safe" increased from 23% to 63%, with 86% wanting to walk, 72% wanting to spend more time walking, and 84% wanting to see roads look like that forever.

Implications for the future:

- Art and cultural aspects will further contribute to designing and developing safer cities customized to the local context.

- Using street art to improve traffic behavior will benefit local artists, who’ll gain money, recognition, and contribute to their communities.

Reference:

- https://steemit.com/art/@voronoi/the-rising-trend-of-street-painting-public-art-for-safety-beautification​

- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-47402269​

- https://eurocities.eu/stories/managing-urban-traffic-3d-zebra-crossings-spread-across-europe/​

- https://data.bloomberglp.com/dotorg/sites/43/2019/10/asphalt-art-guide.pdf​

- https://asphaltart.bloomberg.org/projects/​

- https://www.giarts.org/blog/admin/reclaiming-our-streets-asphalt-art​

- https://www.route-fifty.com/smart-cities/2021/09/26-cities-awarded-arts-grants-transform-blighted-streets/185749/​

Discover more about us at https://www.facebook.com/FutureTalesLABbyMQDC or follow us at https://twitter.com/futuretales_lab