Frowning speed sign stolen .............
Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/3245108.stm
Frowning speed sign stolen
A hi-tech road sign which frowns at speeding motorists has been stolen - by drivers who may have thought they had been caught travelling too fast.
The sign - dubbed Smiley Sid because it smiles at motorists who keep to speed limits - was cut down by two men in a white van, according to council bosses on Teesside.
The £3,000 mobile device has been in operation at various locations in the borough of Redcar & Cleveland since September.
But it is not equipped with cameras and is used as an educational weapon in the battle against speeding drivers.
It was taken from Fabian Road in Eston on Wednesday.
The council's road safety manager Mike Hall, said he is convinced the men responsible for the theft thought they were being filmed for speeding fines.
He said: "That's the only motive I can think of.
"We've been told a white van pulled up by the device, two men got out, climbed up on the roof of the van, then used bolt cutters to cut it down.
"It's a funny scenario, but it's wanton vandalism and a crime, too.
'Good scheme'
"We've had a terrific reaction from the public about the idea.
"Everyone, apart from these two, seem to think it's a good scheme that does make motorists slow down.
"Now our problem is simple. We bought the device for a trial and I don't believe we'll be able to replace it unless the two men hear the truth behind Sid and return it to us."
The sign produces a smiley face if a driver's speed is within the speed limit and a downcast look if the driver breaks the speed limit and has the capacity to log thousands of motorists.
The data from the various locations is being analysed by the council and if there are any 'hot spots' identified, recommendations to instigate enforcement action will be passed to Cleveland Police.
The force has confirmed it is investigating the incident of 'missing Sid'.
Frowning speed sign stolen
A hi-tech road sign which frowns at speeding motorists has been stolen - by drivers who may have thought they had been caught travelling too fast.
The sign - dubbed Smiley Sid because it smiles at motorists who keep to speed limits - was cut down by two men in a white van, according to council bosses on Teesside.
The £3,000 mobile device has been in operation at various locations in the borough of Redcar & Cleveland since September.
But it is not equipped with cameras and is used as an educational weapon in the battle against speeding drivers.
It was taken from Fabian Road in Eston on Wednesday.
The council's road safety manager Mike Hall, said he is convinced the men responsible for the theft thought they were being filmed for speeding fines.
He said: "That's the only motive I can think of.
"We've been told a white van pulled up by the device, two men got out, climbed up on the roof of the van, then used bolt cutters to cut it down.
"It's a funny scenario, but it's wanton vandalism and a crime, too.
'Good scheme'
"We've had a terrific reaction from the public about the idea.
"Everyone, apart from these two, seem to think it's a good scheme that does make motorists slow down.
"Now our problem is simple. We bought the device for a trial and I don't believe we'll be able to replace it unless the two men hear the truth behind Sid and return it to us."
The sign produces a smiley face if a driver's speed is within the speed limit and a downcast look if the driver breaks the speed limit and has the capacity to log thousands of motorists.
The data from the various locations is being analysed by the council and if there are any 'hot spots' identified, recommendations to instigate enforcement action will be passed to Cleveland Police.
The force has confirmed it is investigating the incident of 'missing Sid'.
Yeah, but remember they say that Sid is a logging device and if they see enough speeders then they'll move from Sid-the-adviser to Gatso-the-highway man. Speeding isn't the issue. Driving dangerously is. If they have an accident hot-spot then they should consider enforcement. If every one speeds and there are no accidents then they should raise the speed limit.
stooz said:
Fabulous!!
really? Id prefer a warning sign to highlight a danger than a camera...
at least then I can make my own judgement as to the approriate way to continue (including my speed)
Did I say that I wanted a camera in its place?
I just found this story amusing as thats what its primary function is...
The Wiz said:
The data from the various locations is being analysed by the council and if there are any 'hot spots' identified, recommendations to instigate enforcement action will be passed to Cleveland Police.
I too would rather devices like this to a Gatso, but the article lets on that it's being used to store stats about number of people speeding so they can make "recommendations to instigate enforcement". In other words, they'll use this to prove a case for more Gatsos.
Edited to say: Damn and blast. I always seem to spend too long typing a reply and get beaten by someone else making the same point.
>> Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 28th November 11:28
Plotloss said:
stooz said:
Plotloss said:
Fabulous!!
really? Id prefer a warning sign to highlight a danger than a camera...
at least then I can make my own judgement as to the approriate way to continue (including my speed)
Did I say that I wanted a camera in its place?
I just found this story amusing as thats what its primary function is...
sorry, that wasnt very obvious. do 100 lines after school
>> Edited by stooz on Friday 28th November 11:36
ATG said:
Yeah, but remember they say that Sid is a logging device and if they see enough speeders then they'll move from Sid-the-adviser to Gatso-the-highway man.
On the other hand, if the logging shows that the majority of motorists ARE slowing to the speed limit because of the sign, then it could be a Gatso avoided.
Personally much rather have these signs than Gatsos, though was less than impressed with one I passed the other week that flashed SLOW 40MPH as I got near - because by that time I already had slowed to 40mph. Obviously set up by a numptie.
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