The Peltzman Effect says that if gubmnt officials impose restrictions, trying to make some activity safer, people will take more risks with it. The end result could easily end up with more injuries and greater social costs. I wrote about this effect earlier here and here.
Usually tests of the hypothesis have been one way, e.g. what happens to pedestrian deaths and injuries when drivers are required to wear seatbelts? [answer: they increase because drivers tend to take a bit less care in their driving.] But now many local councils in Scotland are planning to conduct a reverse test of the hypothesis [h/t to Brian Ferguson]:
WHITE dividing lines will be removed from roads in dozens of Scottish towns and villages, under plans to improve pedestrian safety.
Lines separating lanes of traffic have been a feature of the nation’s roads for generations. But now experts believe they could be making drivers feel too safe, encouraging them to drive too fast and putting pedestrians at…
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