Vehicle activated speed signs
Discussion
Didn't get an answer on another thread, so thought I'd air it here.
If the Transport Research Laboratory found vehilcle activated warning signs (VA signs) to be (3 times?) more effective than speed cameras at slowing traffic.....
(a) Why are more cameras being erected?
(b) Why are existing cameras not being scrapped?
A good number of VA signs have been installed in Derbyshire and a few have been spotted in Cheshire and South Yorkshire.
Interesting to note that some Derbyshire Gatsos have been rendered inoperable by the Derbyshire Pratnership, so the message seems to have got through in that county.
The official reply to my question is that VA signs
(a) Are ignored with familiarity
(b) Become a magnet for those attempting to set speed records on the devices.
Personal observation reveals that (a) is untrue. I find VA signs a useful reminder, and a counter to the soporific effect of low speed limits. Furthermore, I have never seen a vehicle speed up after braking for a VA sign. I pass one regularly in a village.
Point (b) is not relevant when the VA sign displays the speed limit rather than the vehicle speed.
So come on, somebody, justify the cameras....
If the Transport Research Laboratory found vehilcle activated warning signs (VA signs) to be (3 times?) more effective than speed cameras at slowing traffic.....
(a) Why are more cameras being erected?
(b) Why are existing cameras not being scrapped?
A good number of VA signs have been installed in Derbyshire and a few have been spotted in Cheshire and South Yorkshire.
Interesting to note that some Derbyshire Gatsos have been rendered inoperable by the Derbyshire Pratnership, so the message seems to have got through in that county.
The official reply to my question is that VA signs
(a) Are ignored with familiarity
(b) Become a magnet for those attempting to set speed records on the devices.
Personal observation reveals that (a) is untrue. I find VA signs a useful reminder, and a counter to the soporific effect of low speed limits. Furthermore, I have never seen a vehicle speed up after braking for a VA sign. I pass one regularly in a village.
Point (b) is not relevant when the VA sign displays the speed limit rather than the vehicle speed.
So come on, somebody, justify the cameras....
The study reported in TRL 548 was the largest of its kind ever conducted, examining the effects of four different electronic warning signs at over 60 locations, and measuring the impact on accident rates over a three year period - good data and a sound result. The vehicle activated signs are cheaper to install and maintain too. For speed limit reminders they were more than four times as effective as cameras.
Don't make money, quite obvious really.
ALL about the money, not the safety... hence arresting people warning of speed traps ahead. If I were a Plod I'd pat them on the back and say well done for helping slow traffic at this accident blackspot, but no. It's all about the money!
Money over safety without question. Thanks Tony!
Dave
ALL about the money, not the safety... hence arresting people warning of speed traps ahead. If I were a Plod I'd pat them on the back and say well done for helping slow traffic at this accident blackspot, but no. It's all about the money!
Money over safety without question. Thanks Tony!
Dave
mybrainhurts said:
Didn't get an answer on another thread, so thought I'd air it here.
If the Transport Research Laboratory found vehilcle activated warning signs (VA signs) to be (3 times?) more effective than speed cameras at slowing traffic.....
(a) Why are more cameras being erected?
(b) Why are existing cameras not being scrapped?
A good number of VA signs have been installed in Derbyshire and a few have been spotted in Cheshire and South Yorkshire.
Interesting to note that some Derbyshire Gatsos have been rendered inoperable by the Derbyshire Pratnership, so the message seems to have got through in that county.
The official reply to my question is that VA signs
(a) Are ignored with familiarity
(b) Become a magnet for those attempting to set speed records on the devices.
Personal observation reveals that (a) is untrue. I find VA signs a useful reminder, and a counter to the soporific effect of low speed limits. Furthermore, I have never seen a vehicle speed up after braking for a VA sign. I pass one regularly in a village.
Point (b) is not relevant when the VA sign displays the speed limit rather than the vehicle speed.
So come on, somebody, justify the cameras....
Hmm,
Just sounds a bit like they are rebutting what you are asking for. I obviously expect because everyone ignores the signs and uses them as a speed trap challenge, they have scrapped them immediately... I think not.
There's a whole bunch of these around Chester.
I would say that at commute times, when it's probably regular drivers passing them, they tend to be ignored.
During the day, when they flash up at drivers unfamiliar with them, the drivers tend to react much worse than they do with speed cameras - I guess because the signs are blank, so are unseen, and flash up very suddenly.
I would say that at commute times, when it's probably regular drivers passing them, they tend to be ignored.
During the day, when they flash up at drivers unfamiliar with them, the drivers tend to react much worse than they do with speed cameras - I guess because the signs are blank, so are unseen, and flash up very suddenly.
We've had them here in our village in Germany, showing your actual speed. These work excellently and slow traffic as it makes people think, as opposed to a gatso where people only say "sh1t", and then carry on at the same speed.....
Very few boy racers use these as speed indicators (to set them off as hgh as possible) as we don't suffer so much from the Laxer pleb mentality here in the villages......large towns are different....
If they use a limit indicating one (flashing e.g a 50) it's usually backed up by a fixed or mobile scamera shortly afterwards....... know of 4 or 5 such efficient ones in Germany and they are all at a real accident black spot (not an imaginary scumera pratnership lied-about black-spot)
WHY are they not used more in GB? Simple really, the scumera pratnerships would lose money and they don't want to lose their precious offices or champagne bucket lunches would they?
Cynical, moi?
>> Edited by JMGS4 on Wednesday 12th April 11:13
Very few boy racers use these as speed indicators (to set them off as hgh as possible) as we don't suffer so much from the Laxer pleb mentality here in the villages......large towns are different....
If they use a limit indicating one (flashing e.g a 50) it's usually backed up by a fixed or mobile scamera shortly afterwards....... know of 4 or 5 such efficient ones in Germany and they are all at a real accident black spot (not an imaginary scumera pratnership lied-about black-spot)
WHY are they not used more in GB? Simple really, the scumera pratnerships would lose money and they don't want to lose their precious offices or champagne bucket lunches would they?
Cynical, moi?
>> Edited by JMGS4 on Wednesday 12th April 11:13
cliffe_mafia said:
The only problem I have with them is when the thresholds are set too low. There is one I know of that flashes 30 even if you crawl passed at 25.
I drove past one the other day that flashed "30" at me, left me wondering what was going on as I had just pulled away after waiting to negotiate a parked car and was probably only doing about 20mph
cliffe_mafia said:
The only problem I have with them is when the thresholds are set too low. There is one I know of that flashes 30 even if you crawl passed at 25.
The ones in West Mercia area seem to be set a fraction low but not as low as that. In other words I think there might be a procedural error in their calibration or could be deliberate.
In effect this means that they trigger with your indicated speed at 40.5/41 in a 40, which is actually a true 39 in my case. Likewise 30.5/31 in a 30 and so on. Too many and in too many different cars for it to be a one off.
Wonder if they set them by the installation team driving past in the van?
3 of these were fitted in Ropley a few weeks back, a small village I often drive through. I have to say I've been quite shocked at how effective they are. Most drivers tended to go through the 50 and subsequent 40 zone at 60 to 70 as it's after a dual carriage way. Now traffic speed seems to be more around the 45-55 range, with just the odd car going slightly over that, certainly not seen anyone hooning through at 70 since they went up (including the chronic chavmobile I followed yesterday!)
detection on these is good, I tested them and they didn't react until 45 at the 40 zone and 55 in the 50 zone (by my speedo, which I reckon is slightly on the high side)
detection on these is good, I tested them and they didn't react until 45 at the 40 zone and 55 in the 50 zone (by my speedo, which I reckon is slightly on the high side)
CombeMarshal said:
The only problem I have with them is when the thresholds are set too low. There is one I know of that flashes 30 even if you crawl passed at 25.
Made you check your speed though, so they work!
And there was me starting to believe that if you look at your speedo whilst driving then you die instantly...
7db said:
The only problem I have with them is when the thresholds are set too low. There is one I know of that flashes 30 even if you crawl passed at 25.
Made you check your speed though, so they work!
And there was me starting to believe that if you look at your speedo whilst driving then you die instantly...
Strue innit? Like, if you go over 70... :shiver:
CombeMarshal said:
The only problem I have with them is when the thresholds are set too low. There is one I know of that flashes 30 even if you crawl passed at 25.
Made you check your speed though, so they work!
However, the point is that he was not only driving at a very safe speed, but also within the speed limit, so checking his speedo was a needless task which meant taking his eyes off the road.
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