M-way worded signs
Discussion
Am I the only one that thinks those gantry and flashing advisory signs are shite and misused? If it's not warnings about mobile phones and driving whilst pissed ( because I was going to do both of them things at 70 mph on the M1 on a Monday morning with my wife and dog in the car) it is about non existent queues ahead. The only queues I ever see are those caused by people slowing down when they see the 'Queue caution ahead' and the 60 or 40 MPH advisory signs for no reason and then racing to catch up the time they have lost. Perhaps they should have a 10 minute timer on them so they don't nip off to lunch and come back at 3pm to see the fog lifted 4 hours ago. Don't start me on the FOG ones! Who can't see the bloody stuff and needs a flashing sign?
Has anyone very looked at the effect they have on traffic flow before some gormless chuff in a M-way control centre is permited to turn them on for no reason other than anxiety about penis size that must be resolved by having power over the little cars on the little TV screen?
This week I have had signs telling me the offisde lane was closed (not true) it was foggy (yes I know), there was a queue on the slip road ( a few hours ago) and that I should take a break (I would if I now wasn't late because of traffic slowing because you keep turning stupid signs on).
Next it will be Caution: Cars Ahead
Has anyone very looked at the effect they have on traffic flow before some gormless chuff in a M-way control centre is permited to turn them on for no reason other than anxiety about penis size that must be resolved by having power over the little cars on the little TV screen?
This week I have had signs telling me the offisde lane was closed (not true) it was foggy (yes I know), there was a queue on the slip road ( a few hours ago) and that I should take a break (I would if I now wasn't late because of traffic slowing because you keep turning stupid signs on).
Next it will be Caution: Cars Ahead
I'm sure we've covered this before... SC will be along any minute to explain that 99.99% of all matrix signs are correct and to ignore them at your peril.
Well, in literally several years of driving (ok, ok, about 16 or so) I can remember only one time ever when a warning sign was actually warning of reall imminent danger and its advice would have been useful.
Of course, the other hundreds of times I've seen warning signs on the M-way, they were all bollox. I and every other car travelling on that stretch of motorway at the time did exactly what we've been conditioned to do by years of expereince of lying signs, namely: carry on regardless but just keep an even sharper eye out than usual just in case.
Luckily the BiB on the scene (lorry gone through central reservation & shed its load across 6 lanes
) realised that this is waht would probably happen and so rushed back down the carriageway waving their fluorescent jackets, which had the desired effect of slowing everybody down and preventing a pile up. Nice one.
My faith in the numptiness of the new overhead matrix signs on the M4 was reaffirmed on Friday night, when I lost count of the "queue ahead" and "60", "50", "60", "40", "60" etc etc signs, none of which were true or relevant. I must have driven for 20 miles or so, still looking out for the "imminent danger" before finally reaching my exit.
These signs are all well and good, but if they're mis-used, as they mostly seem to be in my experience, then they lose their impact as people learn to ignore them.
Its the same effect as setting artificially low speed limits on perfectly safe stretches of road; without scamera enforecement people naturally tend to drive at an appropriate speed rather than the posted limit.
Well, in literally several years of driving (ok, ok, about 16 or so) I can remember only one time ever when a warning sign was actually warning of reall imminent danger and its advice would have been useful.
Of course, the other hundreds of times I've seen warning signs on the M-way, they were all bollox. I and every other car travelling on that stretch of motorway at the time did exactly what we've been conditioned to do by years of expereince of lying signs, namely: carry on regardless but just keep an even sharper eye out than usual just in case.
Luckily the BiB on the scene (lorry gone through central reservation & shed its load across 6 lanes
) realised that this is waht would probably happen and so rushed back down the carriageway waving their fluorescent jackets, which had the desired effect of slowing everybody down and preventing a pile up. Nice one. My faith in the numptiness of the new overhead matrix signs on the M4 was reaffirmed on Friday night, when I lost count of the "queue ahead" and "60", "50", "60", "40", "60" etc etc signs, none of which were true or relevant. I must have driven for 20 miles or so, still looking out for the "imminent danger" before finally reaching my exit.
These signs are all well and good, but if they're mis-used, as they mostly seem to be in my experience, then they lose their impact as people learn to ignore them.
Its the same effect as setting artificially low speed limits on perfectly safe stretches of road; without scamera enforecement people naturally tend to drive at an appropriate speed rather than the posted limit.
I treat these signs as I would any other piece of street furniture. Observe, review, decide. Often I don't have to moderate speed at all.
Not long after they were introduced I followed a chapn on the M1 (i think) who was doing his best to observe the "keep left unless overtaking" matrix board.
The fact that he was cutting in front of vehicles in Lane 1 and then exiting lane 1 very late to overtake the car in front meant he was an absolute menance. He made no attempt whatsoever at trying to determine whether the gap that he was going into was suitable or whether it was worth it.
A numptie who decide to follow the advice without really thinking about it.
Not long after they were introduced I followed a chapn on the M1 (i think) who was doing his best to observe the "keep left unless overtaking" matrix board.
The fact that he was cutting in front of vehicles in Lane 1 and then exiting lane 1 very late to overtake the car in front meant he was an absolute menance. He made no attempt whatsoever at trying to determine whether the gap that he was going into was suitable or whether it was worth it.
A numptie who decide to follow the advice without really thinking about it.
Well in total defiance of the negative views about motorway matrix signs may I offer the following example to the PH masses.
Sunday morning M1 wide load escort.
Only a block of 3 signs was lit which followed the convoy as it progressed.
Ahead you could see the "END" sign which changed to the warning sign as the load passed beneath. The next sign was illuminated as "END" and the first sign with the warning message was extinguished.
Control room on the ball methinks.
Now just to go into grumpy old git mode if I may.
FFS can people who post links to show images check out the size of the image first so we don't get three foot wide pages ....... purrr - lease !
eye thang yew!
[/gog mode]
Sunday morning M1 wide load escort.
Only a block of 3 signs was lit which followed the convoy as it progressed.
Ahead you could see the "END" sign which changed to the warning sign as the load passed beneath. The next sign was illuminated as "END" and the first sign with the warning message was extinguished.
Control room on the ball methinks.
Now just to go into grumpy old git mode if I may.
FFS can people who post links to show images check out the size of the image first so we don't get three foot wide pages ....... purrr - lease !
eye thang yew!
[/gog mode]
I've just driven to Solihull and back from Shropshire.
M42 South - QUEUE AFTER NEXT JUNCTION...........nope.
M42 North - QUEUE AFTER NEXT JUNCTION...........nope.
M6 North - Advisory speed limit 40 on three gantries.........no visible reason
M6 North - CONGESTION J8 TO J10..............nope, 80 mph J8 to J10.
Mind you, when they interview those guys looking at all the M6 cameras they can hardly string a sentence together.
M42 South - QUEUE AFTER NEXT JUNCTION...........nope.
M42 North - QUEUE AFTER NEXT JUNCTION...........nope.
M6 North - Advisory speed limit 40 on three gantries.........no visible reason
M6 North - CONGESTION J8 TO J10..............nope, 80 mph J8 to J10.
Mind you, when they interview those guys looking at all the M6 cameras they can hardly string a sentence together.
If they are relevant and up to date...they can only be a good thing...
If the USE LEFT HAND LANE UNLESS OVERTAKING wakes up half of the people in the middle lane...so be it...
The "debris in the road" has saved many drivers recently and certainly help me and my colleagues....
Also the ACCIDENT ahead..
If you don't like 'em....don't look at 'em...but be careful it doesn't come back to bit you!
If the USE LEFT HAND LANE UNLESS OVERTAKING wakes up half of the people in the middle lane...so be it...
The "debris in the road" has saved many drivers recently and certainly help me and my colleagues....
Also the ACCIDENT ahead..
If you don't like 'em....don't look at 'em...but be careful it doesn't come back to bit you!
Streetcop said:
If they are relevant and up to date...they can only be a good thing...
I don't think you'll find anyone arguing otherwise. Properly used they could prevent accidents and reduce congestion. Used as they seem to be a lot of the time they are just more pointless road furntiure to ignore.
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