3D Street Art – A Creative Solution to Slow Down Traffic
Several towns around the world are trying out 3D-style street paintings. The goal is to catch drivers’ attention and get them to slow down. These pedestrian crossings use optical illusions. From far away, the stripes look like they’re floating. Up close, it’s clear they’re just painted on the road.
The small fishing town of Ísafjörður in Iceland was one of the first to try this idea. Environmental commissioner Ralf Trylla got the idea from a similar project in New Delhi, India. He worked with the street painting company Vegmálun GÍH to bring it to life. Some designs even show children or floating objects to make the warning stronger.
Concerns from the Public: Are 3D Illusions Actually Safe?
While the concept has gained attention, many online users have expressed doubts. On Reddit, some argued that the 3D effect would only work the first time a driver sees it—and may even cause accidents if drivers assume real obstacles are just painted illusions.
One user wrote: “Looks cool, but it’ll only work once for each driver. It might cause accidents if people start thinking every obstacle is just more 3D paint.”Another agreed: “I read about this a long time ago. People started ignoring anything that looked like a painting—even real hazards.”
The biggest concern is that drivers who frequently pass these streets may become desensitized and fail to react to actual dangers.
A Different Perspective: Real-World Design Ensures Driver Safety
Despite the criticism, one of the co-designers of a 3D crosswalk project in Ahmedabad, India, defended the safety of the design.
She explained: “It doesn’t pose a risk of sudden braking. At the actual location, the stripes are only slightly slanted with a mild 3D effect—mainly to catch attention while ensuring driver safety.”
Though still debated, 3D street art remains a creative, experimental approach to improving driver awareness and road safety.