World Standards Day 2005

ewg writes "Today, 2005-10-14, is World Standards Day as celebrated by the IEC, ISO, and ITU. The press release emphasizes the benefits of safety standards, but the interoperability is the true prize for information systems. How many sets of country codes and date formats do we need?" From the release: "International Standards accommodate people's desire to live in a safer, more secure world by providing a valuable safety net. 'Standards for a safer world' is the theme of the message signed by the leaders of the three principal international standardization organizations to mark World Standards Day 2005. Standards developed at the international level through IEC, ISO and ITU are available for use at the national and regional levels to meet the needs of society at large, the market and government regulators," the three leaders point out. They see standards as vital in disseminating best practices and new technologies, while avoiding new barriers to trade that national security and safety regulations may create."

Comments

Okay, here's a standard I'd like to see:

[yagu]

One of my biggest beefs in non-standard behavior (since this article talks about the safety benefits of standards) is highway construction and layout. I could go on about bizarre practices for signage, etc., but I'll just take a couple:

1. Warning signage: I currently live in Washington state and they have the MOST bizarre ways for warning of construction and other hazards on their highways. I literally have come around a blind curve where a sign says "Flagger Ahead" and I almost hit some construction worker with his "SLOW" sign. Literally not enough warning to slow down without almost slamming on one's brakes.

   Another example was in Bellevue, WA, and I'm not making this up. There was a line of cones angling out from the curb, closing off a lane around construction of a new high-rise. Nestled behind those cones in the "dead zone" of the closed off lane was one of those generator run highway signs that said, "Right Lane Closed Ahead"! Wow! I wished for my digital camera.

   On the other hand, there is the state of Illinois where I also lived for a long time. Their warning practices are amazing. I one time was way north of Peoria driving south on the interstate, and I saw signs warning of "Construction Ahead, 40 miles"! It may seem ludicrous, but I at least had it in my consciousness I would expect delays and construction, obviously with plenty of time. I wouldn't say THAT would have to be the standard, but in WA there seem to be none.

2. Freeways: notably, the decision to put merging ramps from the left hand side. Again, I'll cite Bellevue WA. They recently redid their I405 and N.E. 4th street interchange and, yep, the northbound merge onto an HOV lane no less now comes in from the left! (It used to come in from the right, go figure.) Until then I'd sort of figured left side ramps were artifacts and had been deemed dangerous and obsolete.

I could go on, but I wonder how many accidents and deaths could be prevented on our highway systems if there were more sane and consistently applied standards. (And don't even get me started about Europe where they've got ALL of their cars on the wrong side of the road going the wrong way! (kidding))