Are traffic rules meant for safety?

I read in Be a cyclist in Singapore? No chance at all that

Traffic engineer Hans Monderman, who reworked Drachten's roads, believes that clear lanes and street signs give drivers a false sense of security. Drivers speed down these lanes thinking there are no obstructions, which increases the severity of accidents should something catch them unawares.

He has the luxury to reworked Drachten's roads. Here, the LTA seems quite reluctant to make any changes. Now, by the logic of Monderman, it might be better for LTA not to do anything. I think as most infrastructures and traffic rules were not there for safety, but rather for speed, and the by-product of false sense of security.