Strange way of traffic calming!

[8potdave]

Driving home from my dog walk yesterday very local to my house, I'm sat with the wife and 2 dogs in the car driving through a 30 stretch. I notice a van parked on the road and then slightly in front of it a fox ready to leap into the road! I jumped on the brakes lurching everyone forwards and then noticed it was a stuffed animal!

Upon getting closer I noticed it was a stuffed animal and someone had placed it there in front of the van so it could only be seen at the last minute for reasons which escaped me! I can only assume he was trying to slow drivers down as it is notorious for speeders as 100 yards down the road is a clean NSL stretch so a lot of people are already accelerating here.

However, I was not speeding and it caused me to brake suddenly. Not only this but on my way past later that day I saw 2 other cars do the same thing. I have no idea if this is legal or not but what a stupid idea! Has anyone else seen this approach before? I've heard of people putting up fake speed camera's but what next a doll in the road?

[bennett346]

If its true, it's rediculous. Can just see the insurance claims rolling in when someone behind goes into the back of the car that brakes.

Having said that you shouldn't brake hard for a small animal like that anyway, especially if it hasn't actually ran into the road yet.

[4key]

Dont brake for animals in the road. With a bit of luck the fool who put it there will own a cat and will soon regret crying wolf, or fox as it seems

[Disco You]

8potdave said:

it caused me to brake suddenly
what a stupid idea!

Indeed.

[Rostfritt]

Stop and throw it in a hedge, it is a hazard where it is.

[JB!]

Rostfritt said:

Cable tie it to your grille, it is a hazard where it is.

[Eighteeteewhy]

It could end in a cat-astrophe.

[4key]

Are you sure that its a stuffed animal and not just a bit of roadkill some kids have stuck a broom in, it is school holidays

[Nigel Worc's]

4key said:

Dont brake for animals in the road. With a bit of luck the fool who put it there will own a cat and will soon regret crying wolf, or fox as it seems

Easier said than done, it is very natural to brake for any hazard that "suddenly" presents itself to you.

and .......... small animals can cause an awful lot of damage to your car, fetch you off your motorcycle etc, also, by the time you've worked out it is a small animal, you'll have killed it ,if it is a child.

[Mr Happy]

These things are the best/wierdest traffic calming idea I've seen... the thing is, they actually work!

The eyes are just freaky though...

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Child-shaped-bolla...

[Eighteeteewhy]

Mr Happy said:

These things are the best/wierdest traffic calming idea I've seen... the thing is, they actually work!

The eyes are just freaky though...

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Child-shaped-bolla...

They always remind me of Dr Who, nit sure why.

[Dave Hedgehog]

i wouldn't break for a fox

[HereBeMonsters]

Mr Happy said:

These things are the best/wierdest traffic calming idea I've seen... the thing is, they actually work!

The eyes are just freaky though...

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Child-shaped-bolla...

We have them near every Primary School here in Southampton. I have never mistaken one for a real child. They stand still for longer than 0.5 seconds and don't have a micro scooter attached to their feet.

[8potdave]

Regardless of whether some people wouldnt brake it will still cause a lot of people to and is therefore dangerous. In my opinion all sudden and unecessary braking is silly. A lot of old people live down there and guaranteed a lot of them will come to complete halt!

Ive seen the kids one before but they are blatantly fake! Im surprised drunk students havent had em away by now.

[Google [bot]]

HereBeMonsters said:

We have them near every Primary School here in Southampton. I have never mistaken one for a real child. They stand still for longer than 0.5 seconds and don't have a micro scooter attached to their feet.

Surely their trousers get painted down etc?