devaluing illuminated speed signs
Discussion
Recalling that the speed limit signs that illuminate when you approach, if you're over:
Lately there seems to be a proliferation of such signs that "go off" when you're well UNDER the limit - or in fact regardless of your speed. Another that annoys me is in a 30 zone, but the sensor is aimed at a 40 zone and triggers if you're doing >30 as you gently engine brake into the 30!
Forgive me if I'm getting this wrong but what's the intended message of a sign that flashes "30!!!" urgently at me when I'm doing 25? Am I supposed to go faster? Slower?
A cynical voice inside my head says that certain groups want to reduce the effectiveness of these signs by putting them everywhere at random trigger limits .. so that one day they can show the evidence that they don't work and speed cameras are the only solution!
am I paranoid?
Lately there seems to be a proliferation of such signs that "go off" when you're well UNDER the limit - or in fact regardless of your speed. Another that annoys me is in a 30 zone, but the sensor is aimed at a 40 zone and triggers if you're doing >30 as you gently engine brake into the 30!
Forgive me if I'm getting this wrong but what's the intended message of a sign that flashes "30!!!" urgently at me when I'm doing 25? Am I supposed to go faster? Slower?
A cynical voice inside my head says that certain groups want to reduce the effectiveness of these signs by putting them everywhere at random trigger limits .. so that one day they can show the evidence that they don't work and speed cameras are the only solution!
am I paranoid?
Edited by davidra on Tuesday 31st July 22:28
One near me is in a 30 zone but aimed at the NSL bit before the 30 sign. Another couple trigger at 26. As people have pointed out this is not helpful.
What made me laugh was when they put one on the A4 towards London, 50m after the end of the Hammersmith flyover (where the limit changes from 40 to 30). It was set to flash "40" rather than "30". They had to rip it out and put it in again to correct it. It is one of the most widely ignored 30s in the country (3-lane dual carriageway, pedestrians fenced off); the police routinely go at up to 50 and allow others to do the same. Obviously whoever put in the SID also thought that 30 was an absurd limit.
SIDs could be good if used correctly, but I suppose we shouldn't be surprised that they've been abused and overused instead. Now, just as with 30mph speed limits, they have indeed been devalued, an effect which anyone with a few brain cells could have predicted. It's as if we have naive children in charge, who see everything in black and white, and "do" and "don't". Road safety measures will always end up like that until the sanctimonious types find another cause to take up (and ruin).
What made me laugh was when they put one on the A4 towards London, 50m after the end of the Hammersmith flyover (where the limit changes from 40 to 30). It was set to flash "40" rather than "30". They had to rip it out and put it in again to correct it. It is one of the most widely ignored 30s in the country (3-lane dual carriageway, pedestrians fenced off); the police routinely go at up to 50 and allow others to do the same. Obviously whoever put in the SID also thought that 30 was an absurd limit.
SIDs could be good if used correctly, but I suppose we shouldn't be surprised that they've been abused and overused instead. Now, just as with 30mph speed limits, they have indeed been devalued, an effect which anyone with a few brain cells could have predicted. It's as if we have naive children in charge, who see everything in black and white, and "do" and "don't". Road safety measures will always end up like that until the sanctimonious types find another cause to take up (and ruin).
streaky said:
Two that are local to me in a 30 limit are triggered at 26 and 27 respectively (from GPS speed reading). Observation suggests that their effectiveness has waned, possibly because they are set below the limit - Streaky
Spotted a couple like that myself.
Being told about a 30 limit when I'm already doing 28/29 is more than a little galling. Being told about it if I'm doing 34/35 is not a problem, and is a nice courteous reminder (a LOT more courteous than £60, 3 points, and a photo of your car to frame!)
There is one in Belper that was universally ignored by all as the trigger speed was far too low. Usual traffic flow is about mid thirties in what is a 30 zone. But the sign would go off at well under 25mph, so locals ignored it. They appear to have recalibrated it now quite accurately, and folks are generally keeping to just below 30 now so as not to set it off. Previously they just thought 
it, what's the point.
it, what's the point.Bing o said:
They tried the ones that flashed up your actual speed (not the limit) - it got taken down after every boy racer and performance car owner tried to see what the highest reading was they could get out of it!!!
I had one of these flash 31 at me last night... very annoying. (Ours only go up to 45 by the way
)
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