Electronic signs on the M6 - How hard can it be ?
Discussion
I've just driven down the M6 heading south at around 11:00 ish. Around junction 30 the big electronic signs read "Slow Moving Wide Load". Very good I thought, best to move it on Saturday and not at night ! But , then it gets better. I easily spotted the slow moving wide load. About 2 minutes later, there it was, it was wide and it was slow moving. And where was it, I hear you ask ? On the M6 heading North !! For the next few miles all the signs on the southbound side had the same message and looking in my rear view mirror I spotted that the northbound signs said nothing !! Good one !! Tricky that, not being able to tell north from south. I assume that was done by the same tossers who leave the "Fog" or "Accident" signs up for about 12 hours after the accident has been cleared or the fog as been blown away and then wonder why no one takes a blind bit of notice of them !!!!
adrianmugridge said:
I assume that was done by the same tossers who leave the "Fog" or "Accident" signs up for about 12 hours after the accident has been cleared or the fog as been blown away and then wonder why no one takes a blind bit of notice of them !!!!
The signs are controlled by the police.
Incidentally, the series of sings around the M56 and M6 were installe dunder the grandiose title of Thelwall And Regions Driver Information System, or TARDIS. That is until the BBC put a claim in the High Court for breach of copyright.
) 
The reason people ignore them is because more often than not they are wrong. How many times have you driven down a motorway, seen a sign saying accident/congestion etc, so you slow down. Then, a few miles later, after no incident, you see the all clear sign ?
I think the signs are a great idea in theory, but in practice they dont work because they are not kept up to date, so drivers ignore them.
I think the signs are a great idea in theory, but in practice they dont work because they are not kept up to date, so drivers ignore them.
I'm always cautious of the signs after a 50 mph and then a 30mph where flashing on the M1 at 2 or could have been 3 am on the M1. Totally clear road until a horse came trotting into view. Just cos you can't see anything! Mind you when I worked in Hull I would often pass the same sign, saying the same thing END. Perhaps it knew something I didn't.
I wish they would be more efficient with these signs!!!! On Friday just passed an exit which I could have taken and then get told as I am joining the queue that the road is congested. Why wasn't the sign telling me that 500 metres down the road!!!! Oh yes this was on the M40 joining the M25.
adrianmugridge said:
The reason people ignore them is because more often than not they are wrong.
Not exactly defensive driving then...
What happens at Give Way signs...do you career through them as they are often wrong as many times there isn't any traffic to 'give way' to...
I'm sorry, I'm being pedantic...it's just that it's a bit of a risk to ignore such warning signs isn't it...
I've known them to be on for various reasons that the public never know about...
Nails and tacks in a lane, loose animals on the verge, suicide attempts etc etc...
Street
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Couldn't agree with you more on Westminster Council mate, i worked up there for 6 years until January, what a bunch of a**e their road policies are. In fairness to the donkey walloper plod you speak of, it's not the job of the Police, he couldn't just magic-up some road signs could he?
P.S.- The M6 toll road is fantastic, saves SO much time if you're prepared to pay the cash. Know what you mean about the signs but don't know the reason....
Streetcop said:
adrianmugridge said:
The reason people ignore them is because more often than not they are wrong.
Not exactly defensive driving then...
What happens at Give Way signs...do you career through them as they are often wrong as many times there isn't any traffic to 'give way' to...
I'm sorry, I'm being pedantic...it's just that it's a bit of a risk to ignore such warning signs isn't it...
I've known them to be on for various reasons that the public never know about...
Nails and tacks in a lane, loose animals on the verge, suicide attempts etc etc...
Street
What about "Fog" on a hot sunny day without a cloud in the sky?
edit:Well, you admitted you were being pedantic.
>> Edited by Zod on Monday 6th September 19:34
Streetcop said:
The reason people ignore them is because more often than not they are wrong.
Not exactly defensive driving then...
What happens at Give Way signs...do you career through them as they are often wrong as many times there isn't any traffic to 'give way' to...
Street
I fail to see what a Give Way sign has to do with the issue of signs giving wrong information. A Give Way sign means stop if something is coming, but you don't have to stop if the road is clear, unlike a Stop sign where you have to stop regardless.
Therefore, they are never wrong, are they ? They just inform you of the type of junction you are approaching.
Would you expect to see a road sign saying cross-roads when the was not one? or a sharp bend sign on a straight road ? No, you would not. Ofcause, the only exception is a camera sign, but that's a different matter.
If you put up signs that are wrong a lot of time then people are bound to ignore them. It's called crying wolf, in the end no one takes any notice.
I have seen the sign display :
Police Helicopters above monitoring speed or somesuch sign ( such a long time ago, cannot remember )
Was it for real ? or was it to slow people down generally.
Do police helicopters really hover to monitor speed ? I have never heard of such a trap, only being used in chases.
Police Helicopters above monitoring speed or somesuch sign ( such a long time ago, cannot remember )
Was it for real ? or was it to slow people down generally.
Do police helicopters really hover to monitor speed ? I have never heard of such a trap, only being used in chases.
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