[OT] Drivers can't recognise signs

And we all know they don't recognise speed limit signs :P

squeaker said:

And we all know they don't recognise speed limit signs :P

And "give way to oncoming traffic" signs...

PhilD

--
<><

Tony Raven said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6716417.stm

Road signs 'lost' on many drivers

Another good reason to get rid of most of them (the signs not the
motorists :-) ), especially from town and village centres - perhaps.

--
Matt B

PhilD said:

squeaker said:

And we all know they don't recognise speed limit signs :P

And "give way to oncoming traffic" signs...

Hands up if you've also seen that same sign, used upside down, at the
other end of road works, to mean "you have priority over oncoming vehicles"!

--
Matt B

"Matt B" <"matt.bourke"@nospam.london.com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

PhilD said:

squeaker said:

And we all know they don't recognise speed limit signs :P

And "give way to oncoming traffic" signs...

Hands up if you've also seen that same sign, used upside down, at the
other end of road works, to mean "you have priority over oncoming
vehicles"!

I've seen it used as a permanent sign too - it was bolted to a sign post and
looked like it had been there a while anyway.
--
peter

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"Matt B" <"matt.bourke"@nospam.london.com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tony Raven said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6716417.stm

Road signs 'lost' on many drivers

Another good reason to get rid of most of them (the signs not the
motorists :-) ), especially from town and village centres - perhaps.

There does seem to be a culture of "let's put a sign up for it" in a lot of
places. My driving instructor always used to complain about one stretch
where there were 4 pairs of posts (one on each side) some with two signs on
each all within about 300 yards of each other.

Getting rid of them won't happen though becuase it will cost money to remove
them, reduce the need for as many jobs making the signs, checking the signs,
cleaning the signs etc. and fear of being sued for not putting a sign up to
warn of a danger.
--
peter

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naked_draughtsman said:

There does seem to be a culture of "let's put a sign up for it" in a lot of
places. My driving instructor always used to complain about one stretch

The BBC article seems to suggest people want yet more signs, to cash
machines and telling them to switch off their engines when waiting
(are they not able to do that themselves without a sign?!)

Most of the other things suggested were equally stupid.
--
Chris Johns

Tony Raven said:

Simon Ewart, of carmaker Vauxhall, said: "UK motorists love to drive,
but our research shows that there is a need to contemporise the road
landscape to mirror the needs of modern motorists.

"We are all more aware of green issues, so a simple reminder to turn the
engine off when waiting has to be a good thing.

"We've all been on wild goose chases looking for cash machines. A new
road sign could save endless hours searching the streets."

So, a spokesman for Vauxhall wants to clutter our streets with yet more
signs. How will that sell more cars? More accidents requiring more
replacement vehicles? More entrenchment of a car-dominated landscape,
leading to more car sales?

Me, I don' trust 'im.

Tony Raven said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6716417.stm

Road signs 'lost' on many drivers

Many British motorists are lost when it comes to understanding common
road signs, a survey suggests.

Some 67% of the 2,500 people polled did not recognise "no through road"
signs, and one-third could not identify the sign for "no motor vehicles".

This just shows how many drivers should not be driving on our roads.

Quoted message said:

Fewer than 33% knew what a "no cycling" sign looked like

Car drivers do not really need to know that one.

and "urban foxes crossing".

I don't think that urban foxes will follow rules about where to cross
the road. They could roam for miles.

Quoted message said:

'Wild goose chases'

That one should light up about 4pm in Bristol city center.

Quoted message said:

The next most popular new signs motorists wanted to see were ones
warning drivers to be more environmentally friendly by switching off
their engines - for instance, outside schools while waiting to collect
children.

If you switch off the engine for a minute, and then turn it back on it
creates a lot of pollution when it is restarted. It would be better if
the kiddies walked or cycled, especially the ones that live within a
couple of miles.

Tony Raven said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6716417.stm

Road signs 'lost' on many drivers

Many British motorists are lost when it comes to understanding common
road signs, a survey suggests.

Some 67% of the 2,500 people polled did not recognise "no through road"
signs, and one-third could not identify the sign for "no motor vehicles".

Fewer than 33% knew what a "no cycling" sign looked like and one-third
were confused by height restriction signs.

Vauxhall's poll found drivers would like to see signs such as "cash
machine nearby" and "urban foxes crossing".

'Wild goose chases'

The next most popular new signs motorists wanted to see were ones
warning drivers to be more environmentally friendly by switching off
their engines - for instance, outside schools while waiting to collect
children.

Other popular suggestions were:

# Wifi hotspot;

# Healthy eating zone - indicating places where healthy food is on offer;

# Drive-through approaching;

# Up-to-date children-crossing signs - with the boy wearing a hoodie;

# Beware of skateboarders.

Simon Ewart, of carmaker Vauxhall, said: "UK motorists love to drive,
but our research shows that there is a need to contemporise the road
landscape to mirror the needs of modern motorists.

"We are all more aware of green issues, so a simple reminder to turn the
engine off when waiting has to be a good thing.

"We've all been on wild goose chases looking for cash machines. A new
road sign could save endless hours searching the streets."

--
Tony

At least as a motorist, they have demonstrated some competency with
road signs. And cyclists have demonstrated what competency??

Quoted message said:

At least as a motorist, they have demonstrated some competency with
road signs. And cyclists have demonstrated what competency??

Survival!

The other view point said:

Tony Raven said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6716417.stm

Road signs 'lost' on many drivers

At least as a motorist, they have demonstrated some competency with
road signs. And cyclists have demonstrated what competency??

On my theory test when I learn to drive, I passed 100% first time. I
would pass it if I had to retake it now. Far too many drivers would not
pass, and should not be on the road.

Martin.

Chris Johns said:

naked_draughtsman said:

There does seem to be a culture of "let's put a sign up for it" in a
lot of
places. My driving instructor always used to complain about one stretch

The BBC article seems to suggest people want yet more signs, to cash
machines and telling them to switch off their engines when waiting (are
they not able to do that themselves without a sign?!)

Most of the other things suggested were equally stupid.

This is exactly my point from my previous discussions... People can't
think or take responsibility for themselves. They need yet more signs to
be told what to do.

It drives me f***ing mad!

Cya
Simon

Martin Dann said:

The other view point said:

Tony Raven said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6716417.stm

Road signs 'lost' on many drivers

At least as a motorist, they have demonstrated some competency with
road signs. And cyclists have demonstrated what competency??

On my theory test when I learn to drive, I passed 100% first time. I
would pass it if I had to retake it now. Far too many drivers would not
pass, and should not be on the road.

Martin.

Theory test?

I passed when it was a unified test. But according to my instructor, my
test was with a real hard nose. He was a biker who had been knocked off
his bike by a car and could no longer ride, so he didn't have much of a
time for car drivers. He had a real bad reputation as the worst you can get.

I still remember as if it were yesterday, being told I wasn't using my
mirrors enough (apparently you have to turn your whole head to see a
mirror), and I remember one question.... What are the rules and
regulations on a Motorway. So I kept coming out with stuff like "Keep to
the left unless overtaking... Obey signs..." and everything I said, he
just kept saying "Doesn't say that". I was getting seriously stressed
out. He ended up rephrasing the question asking "Are you allowed on
there?", "Oh, well, no, because Im a learner". This was followed by
something like "Well you're allowed now".

Cya
Simon

Quoted message said:

At least as a motorist, they have demonstrated some competency with
road signs. And cyclists have demonstrated what competency??

Pretty much the same as pedestrians. Thankfully standards (and levels of)
cycle training are on the up, but need to rise further. However, given the
KSI stats for cyclists and peds, I think it's those using their feet that
need the lessons!

Martin Dann said:

If you switch off the engine for a minute, and then turn it back on it
creates a lot of pollution when it is restarted.

Really? Do you have numbers for that? Petrol or diesel?

A

Tony Raven said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6716417.stm

[SNIP]

Quoted message said:

The next most popular new signs motorists wanted to see were ones
warning drivers to be more environmentally friendly by switching off
their engines - for instance, outside schools while waiting to collect
children.

[Not sure you'll be reading this but ...]

I've seen these in Birmingham. Not authorised by whoever the bods are
who deal with road signs, but presumably thought up by schools themselves.

Examples of wording I have seen are:

1) Don't choke me

and

2) Fumes are nasty monsters.

"Martin Dann" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

If you switch off the engine for a minute, and then turn it back on it
creates a lot of pollution when it is restarted.

Only in the bad old days of carburrettors. Have you not noticed that modern
engines start on the third stroke?

<[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

At least as a motorist, they have demonstrated some competency with
road signs.

A significant minority have not

Quoted message said:

And cyclists have demonstrated what competency??

A significant minority (possibly majority) a driving test.