Wednesday 20th August 2008

Call To Ban Old People Sign

Campaigners want 'ageist' sign replaced with lower speed limits

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Moonwalking ahead

The familiar sign showing elderly people crossing the road could be scrapped because it is not politically correct. The image shows two people, one using a stick, hunched over, as they doddle across the road. But campaigners argue that it is insulting to today's fitter, healthier senior citizens.

It is now suggested that a new image be created that represents the more active old person. Another suggestion is to ditch the sign altogether and replace it with traffic calming measures.

Lizzy McLennan, of Help the Aged, said: 'Very few older people are hunched over a walking stick. They are assuming everyone who is old looks like that, and they don't.'

The current sign for 'elderly people crossing' was the winning design in a children's competition held in 1981. Gordon Lishman, of Age Concern, added: 'The motivation behind these signs - to make drivers more careful of their speed in areas with residential care homes - is positive. However, in practice a reduced speed limit in such areas, as implemented in school districts, would be a more welcome way to achieve this.'

The sign previously carried the caption 'elderly people' but this was banished in 2003 because it was deemed ageist. A spokesman for the Highways Agency said no further alterations will be made.

[RB Will]

I thought that one warned about pickpockets.

[OJ]

LMFAO

Some people have too much time on their hands

[Graham]

So let me get this right... A sign which tells you exactly what to look out for...elderly people crossing the road, slowly, who might not hear you should be removed and replaced with a generic speed limit sign that doesnt suggest anything in particular to beware of should be removed as it singles out the people its trying to protect...


Its Official the world ( well uk at least) has gone MAD...

[Xenocide]

That's ridiculous. Why spend millions replacing all the signs. I'm sure nobody really gives a toss.

[jezza l]

Well if very few old people are hunched over and with walking sticks then get rid of the signs as they can surely cross the road at a decent pace then! That'll be one less sign cluttering up the roadside!

[sniff petrol]

Just get rid of the signs all together.

[DamoLLb]

It is rather odd! I have never seen the benefit of the sign!

You didnt have signs of pissed students staggering about at my old uni

Edited by DamoLLb on Wednesday 20th August 12:45

[FartPants]

OJ said:

Some people have too much time on their hands

Jobs for the boys....

[chr15b]

surely the sign isnt needed to warn us of the 'modern' 'active' older person, but the slower, slightly bent over ones who may be crossing the road slowly using a stick??

therefore the signage is correct?

[corcoran]

surely it's more about "in this area, there are people who may take more than 1 or 2 years to cross the road, therefore, as you approach, you might want to consider slowing down".

rather than "old people are old".

but the design itself is from 1981 - so that's pretty old. seems a bit sign-ageist.

[Cabana]

DamoLLb said:

You didnt have signs of pissed students staggering about at my old uni

That's because they all got nicked to decorate a hall of residence

[Molehall]

Rather than replace the signs, surely it would be cheaper to issue all old people with a stick and a leaflet reminding them to walk with a hunched back when crossing the road? Then the existing signs would be an accurate representation of reality.

Just my pennyworth of common sense to what appears to be a major road traffic issue.

Edited by Molehall on Wednesday 20th August 12:51

Edited by Molehall on Wednesday 20th August 12:53

[FourWheelDrift]

chr15b said:

surely the sign isnt needed to warn us of the 'modern' 'active' older person, but the slower, slightly bent over ones who may be crossing the road slowly using a stick??

therefore the signage is correct?

Yes, not to warn us of the elderly who are these days fitter and healthier but the even older people who are slow. People are living longer so the slow 70s have been replaced by the slow 90s.

[DELTAHPE]

well i think they should introduce a new sign depicting a fat chav on a mini moto to warn of careless chavs on the road.......

[VladD]

chr15b said:

surely the sign isnt needed to warn us of the 'modern' 'active' older person, but the slower, slightly bent over ones who may be crossing the road slowly using a stick??

therefore the signage is correct?

That's it in a nutshell. fking morons.

[jaik]

Placing political correctness above road safety. Sounds like the kind of thing we (the UK) would do.

[B10]

Personally I would like to update the adult with child sign. Change the adult head to an alien head. Then it would be an alien abduction warning sign. Much more fun.

[gazza_3]

Oh for Petes sake, there are more important things in the world.

[Oakey]

Tosser said:

However, in practice a reduced speed limit in such areas, as implemented in school districts, would be a more welcome way to achieve this.

Uh huh, that'd be the school district that usually warns drivers by way of a sign featuring young people then?

[RB Will]

Lets have a think now, what other signs could we change?