The wonderful French expression Trompe L’oeil—which translates to “fools the eye”—in this case describes a type of painting, done on the pavement, which is making the roads safer for people around the world. From Canada to India, from Britain to Iceland, optical illusions painted on roadways are causing drivers to slow down and save lives.
From “Stella” on Bored Panda:
In the small fishing town of Ísafjörður, Iceland, an exciting development in road safety has just popped up—almost literally. A new pedestrian crossing has been painted that appears to be 3D by way of a cleverly-detailed optical illusion.
Not only does the innovative design give foot-travelers the feeling of walking on air, it also gets the attention of drivers, who will be sure to slow down their speed once they spot the seemingly floating ‘zebra stripes.’ Icelandic environmental commissioner Ralf Trylla called for its placement in Ísafjörður after seeing a similar project being carried out in New Delhi, India. With the help of street painting company Vegmálun GÍH, his vision became a reality.
The definitive piece by the BBC can be found here.
Even when you see it being painted the illusion is too strong to ignore.
Image credits: Gústi Productions
Via Bored Panda.
