Old Europe has suddenly begun to come up with some revolutionary new ideas: old ideas whose time has come. The failure of 'modernisation' - which has come to mean the State taking control over every aspect of our lives - has sown the seeds of a rethink in more enlightened parts.
The Impressionist has often wondered why our town streets have become a rainforest of exotic traffic signs. After all, everyone knows the consequences of stepping into the path of several tons of metal late for its next delivery.
So why do we need them, these traffic lights, these railings at pedestrian crossings, these 1 metre long cycle lanes?
Well, apparently we don't.
A couple of recent experiments in towns in Holland and Germany have shown that removing all the road signs cuts accidents and traffic congestion. There are no traffic lights, stop signs, waiting restrictions or kerbs. Removing the signs means that road users have to take responsibility for themselves and for others. They respond by being considerably more ... considerate as a result.
The Impressionist hopes that this idea will spread. And not just within the confines of traffic management. The concept of taking responsibility for oneself is anathema to the current UK government in its obsession with micromanagement. When Gordon Brown uncharacteristically handed over responsibility to the Bank of England for setting the base lending rate, the UK economy was at last able to enter a period of relative stability.
So should sleeping anarchists break out the Pabsts? Well not quite yet. People may be stupid but a person considering walking in front of a speeding 10 ton truck will always do the right thing.
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