A recent article in the technology section of The Guardian describes a Japanese initiative to put musical grooves onto Japanese roads. Here in Ontario, major highways have grooves in the shoulders that make a loud noise when you drive over them, with the intent to inform the driver that they are driving off the road. This Japanese project takes this to the next level, replacing the loud noise with actual music. The positioning of the tires and speed of the vehicle play an important role in how the music sounds.

Which brings us to an interesting concept: enforcing traffic speeds by reward rather then penalty. The ideal speed to hear the musical roads properly is 28mph. I am sure this can be changed as needed. Economists have said that rewards are more likely to bring about desired behaviour then punishments (someone please chime in with the proper econo-speak for me). This seems to follow that logic.

The Guardian: Japan’s melody roads play music as you drive

“You need to keep the car windows closed to hear well,” wrote one Japanese blogger. “Driving too fast will sound like playing fast forward, while driving around 12mph has a slow-motion effect, making you almost car sick.”