I know we all like to bitch and moan about traffic rules and regs, but I just saw this old film of a cablecar ride up Market St. in 1906, and the chaos totally blew my mind. If it didn't all happen at 10 mph or less, people would be dying left and right. There are no road rules, no signals, no crosswalks--people are driving on either side of the road, passing and crossing everywhere, hanging u-turns at will, cars mixed with horse-drawn wagons, and pedestrians are mixed in everywhere--crossing and standing in the middle of the street to catch the cablecars and streetcars, etc. Check it out: http://www.flixxy.com/san-francisco-1905-historical-footage.htm
TT