The Noble Vehicular Savage

According to this story, several cities in Europe are getting rid of all traffic signs in a Rousseauian attempt to improve traffic safety and efficiency. According to the proponents of this "new" philosophy:

"The glut of prohibitions is tantamount to treating the driver like a child and it also foments resentment," and "the many rules strip us of the most important thing: the ability to be considerate."

History and anthropology have borne out that there is no such thing as a "noble savage." It's not the constricting laws of society that cause drivers to be bad. Drivers are bad because the hearts within the drivers are evil--not good. People (myself included) are, by nature, selfish, proud, and deceitful. Our own selfishness is what strips our ability to be considerate to others.

Anyone want to place a bet on how long it will be before this latest European fad goes the way of the Edsel?

Disclaimer: I'm not a student of philosophy, and so perhaps there was another philosopher whose worldview better explains this "new" model of government. But I do see it as a manifestation of Rousseau's flawed assertion that man is essentially good.