No traffic lights and signs makes roads safer

And by all accounts the experiment appears to have worked, with the German town of Bohmte being accident-free since the move was made four weeks ago. Previously there had been around one serious incident every month and various minor collisions.

The initiative, backed by European Union funds, is based on the theory that drivers take greater care and show more considerations to other motorists and pedestrians if restrictions are removed.

The scheme, inspired by the "shared space" programmes developed by Dutch traffic expert Hans Monderman, will now continue indefinitely.