Further to the thread, (over on SE23 Topics) "Driving during the power cut", users may find the following interesting:

In several towns in the Netherlands they have been experimenting with "shared space" schemes whereby the boundaries between cars and pedestrians have been "blurred".

Many of the traditional road features such as traffic lights, road markings and warning signs have been removed. In some places even the kerbs have been removed. Since it is not clear where road begins and pavement ends, both drivers and pedestrians behave much more cautiously.

In effect, when driving you slow down more at junctions without traffic lights because you cannot assume to have right of way.

The goal is to create a safer environment for all and the evidence from the research carried out so far suggests that it works.