Motorway service signs are getting a revamp...
Motorway service signs are getting a revamp...
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Discussion

stickyr6

Original Poster:

573 posts

190 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
will it work??!!

Roads Minister Mike Penning has given his approval to new motorway service area signs. These will enable motorists to make more informed choices about where to take their breaks.

Service areas will now be able to display up to six logos indicating the facilities and franchises operating at each site. Currently only generic symbols – such as a knife and fork – are allowed.

The change is being made as part of the Government’s wider review of traffic signs policy. Signing the Way is the most wide-ranging consideration of the traffic sign system that has been undertaken for forty years.

Surveys of motorists previously undertaken have indicated that a particular value is placed on information that tells them where they are. Having taken on board this feedback, there will now also be a requirement for operators to include geographical information on the new signs situated a mile and then again at half mile before a services.

There will be no additional signs on the network and motorists will benefit from being able to make more informed choices when taking their breaks. However it will be mandatory to include a logo of the fuel supplier or the generic fuel pump symbol.

Operators will be invited to submit applications with a view to the first signs being installed later this year. The new proposals allow for operators to decide on two variations of signs (see right for the examples with a fictitious location and operator name). One option will be to provide a maximum of six franchisee logos. The other will be to have a combination of generic symbols and franchisee logos. As now, the cost of installing these signs will be met fully by the motorway service area operators.

Roads Minister Mike Penning said:

"By encouraging drivers to take regular breaks, motorway service areas make a vital contribution to road safety and it is common sense that motorway users should have as much information as possible about the choices available at service areas.

"The system I inherited just wasn't fit for purpose for either road users or the operator. To get brand names on signs, some operators even went as far as re-naming their company to reflect the main franchise operating on their sites because there was no flexibility in the rules.

"Now they will no longer need to do this. The more descriptive signs will encourage drivers to take regular breaks, increase healthy competition and contribute towards service areas improving the services they provide to road users."






crmcatee

5,785 posts

248 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
They used to display the prices of fuel but that seems to have stopped long ago.

Technology would enable this to be fairly easily done. Although I'd like to see why they can justify a 10p additional cost per litre just because they're on the side of the motorway.

Hitch78

6,118 posts

215 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
They've had the name of the food retailers on there for years.

dtmpower

3,972 posts

266 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
Hitch78 said:
They've had the name of the food retailers on there for years.
Not on the same blue sign, the m3 services have the retailers names just below. rolleyes

Hitch78

6,118 posts

215 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
dtmpower said:
Hitch78 said:
They've had the name of the food retailers on there for years.
Not on the same blue sign, the m3 services have the retailers names just below. rolleyes
Oh, ok...wow! What a huge step forward - an integrated sign. Who'd have thought it possible?!

Zed Ed

1,145 posts

204 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
Clearly if highways agency folk have time in their day to think up this waste of money , then there must be scope for further public sector job cuts.

XitUp

7,690 posts

225 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
stickyr6 said:
Surveys of motorists previously undertaken have indicated that a particular value is placed on information that tells them where they are.
Why did they just ask MLMs?

Moley RUFC

3,661 posts

210 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
In the age of CCTV, why can't they show live footage from the women's toilets at the next services

Hitch78

6,118 posts

215 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
Pervert.

dtmpower

3,972 posts

266 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
Hitch78 said:
Oh, ok...wow! What a huge step forward - an integrated sign. Who'd have thought it possible?!
Indeed - did you not sense the irony in my post. I can't believe the public service waste so much time , money and effort just for a stupid sign.

Moley RUFC

3,661 posts

210 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
Hitch78 said:
Pervert.
I disagree, in the interests of equality another screen would show re runs of gok cock examining women's breasts for the correct bra size. Over 65% of women wear the wrong bra size so this information would prove invaluable

ShampooEfficient

4,278 posts

232 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
Moley RUFC said:
Hitch78 said:
Pervert.
I disagree, in the interests of equality another screen would show re runs gok cock examining women's breasts for the correct bra size. Over 65% of women wear the wrong bra size so this information would prove invaluable
"Cost of replacing motorway service signage soars due to men, lesbians, and angry feminists"

5lab

1,797 posts

217 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
Hitch78 said:
They've had the name of the food retailers on there for years.
they're not allowed to do this, so what they have to do instead, is rename their services 'chepworth burgerking marks and sparks' or something, in order to get it on the sign smile

Sam.F

1,144 posts

221 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
crmcatee said:
They used to display the prices of fuel but that seems to have stopped long ago.

Technology would enable this to be fairly easily done. Although I'd like to see why they can justify a 10p additional cost per litre just because they're on the side of the motorway.
I think it should be mandatory for the price of fuel to be displayed.

Trustmeimadoctor

14,258 posts

176 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
i like the american signs that are at most junctions

separate ones for fuel food accommodation etc so your not restricted to motorway services/truck stops they also include distances and directions much better idea

like this

Graebob

2,172 posts

228 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
What useful information! I'm so glad that the new signs will be more distracting, causing the average motorist's already tenuous grip on road sense to be completely dissipated for a minute or so while they decide if the upcoming services has the "right" shop for them to park their diesel company car outside.

I don't normally get on my high horse about these things, because mostly they are inevitable, but some government fknuckle has been paid to come up with this sack of horse st. Who the fk cares what shops are at the services, I'm only stopping there to piss in a hole and buy some overpriced sweets or fuel. fk off and do some real work, spend the money they paid the dicksneeze to come up with this on improving our piss poor driving tutorage and qualifications. Dozy cockbags.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

226 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
Sam.F said:
crmcatee said:
They used to display the prices of fuel but that seems to have stopped long ago.

Technology would enable this to be fairly easily done. Although I'd like to see why they can justify a 10p additional cost per litre just because they're on the side of the motorway.
I think it should be mandatory for the price of fuel to be displayed.
I agree they should display it. The cynic in me says they charge extra because they can, however I do believe they have to pay very large rents for the real estate next to the motorway, so in part its passing the cost on.

Steameh

3,155 posts

231 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
Trustmeimadoctor said:
i like the american signs that are at most junctions

separate ones for fuel food accommodation etc so your not restricted to motorway services/truck stops they also include distances and directions much better idea

like this
Definitely, that system works really well. Cant wait to get back over there next year.

Hitch78

6,118 posts

215 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
5lab said:
Hitch78 said:
They've had the name of the food retailers on there for years.
they're not allowed to do this, so what they have to do instead, is rename their services 'chepworth burgerking marks and sparks' or something, in order to get it on the sign smile
I'm sure that the signs on the M6 between Brum and Manc used to show Costa Coffee, M&S and KFC signs.

The whole thing is a pile of bks - the UK has too many signs already, why do people need to understand the food options before they pull over anyway?

Paul O

3,048 posts

204 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
quotequote all
Can I eat there?
Can I dump there?
Can I sleep there?
Can I fill up there?

That's all I need from a services sign on the motorway, thanks - I can work the rest out when I get in. It's not like I'm travelling miles out of my way only to find that there is a Wimpy instead of a Burger King.

Most services are very samey anyway - I'm not looking for a gormet meal at a service station!