Optical Illusion Being Used to Slow Down Traffic

Forget photo radar or cops hiding behind billboards, there's a new trick to get you to slow down on some Arizona highways.

It's an optical illusion. Mohave County engineer Steve Latoski says they've painted white marks about 150 feet apart on a two mile stretch of road north of Kingman.

As you drive along, the marks get closer and closer together. "Hence it creates that perception that the driver has actually increased speed as they travel through the zone and it might create that instinctive reaction of relaxing the accelerator."

The test is working so far. Daytime speeds have dropped 2 mph, nighttime speeds by 5 mph.

They'll check back in three months. If it's still working, they'll try the trick on other roads.