"THINK WATCH YOUR SPEED"

[supermono]

I read this on several gantries on the M25 this morning.

So the gubment have invested a large amount of our money on these clever messaging facilities and they squander it by creating a worthless message serving only to take your eyes off the road to read it. And then perhaps again if you're a bit hard of thinking to look at your speedometer.

I couldn't help wondering what useful messages could have been displayed instead:

"THINK KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING"
"THINK SIGNAL BEFORE CHANGING LANE"
"THINK TURN OFF YOUR FRIKKIN FOGLIGHTS IT'S NOT BEEN FOGGY FOR DAYS YOU IMBECILE"

Ok, the last one wouldn't fit.

Pretty annoying though. Who is actually responsible for thinking up what's to be displayed anyhow? Local BIB? Highways Agency? Are there any qualificiations required or can some dimwit type whatever they feel like typing? (apparently so)

SM

[CommanderJameson]

The list of messages is designed and approved by ACPO.

[alphadog]

supermono said:

...Are there any qualificiations required or can some dimwit type whatever they feel like typing? (apparently so)

SM

There was a case of 'WROKFORCE IN ROAD' near Leicester recently.

Anyway, 'tis the highways agency that is responsible for the signs and contents

www.trafficengland.com/TCC/

They can be emailed at [e-mail]

Will drop them a line myself as I have noticed some improvement when the occasional 'Keep left unless overtaking' messages have been displayed.

[WildCat]

Europe just puts normal warning signs with nice little icon ... und they are ever couple of hundred yards.

OK .. so I can read the lingo .. but I cannot help but think these are a lot more to point .. varied .. und clearer to all drivers.

[tvrgit]

The idea is apparently that the gantry should always be on and show some sort of message, to show that it is working. When there are no emergencies or closures etc, then as CJ says there is a list of approved "standby" messages to be displayed, rather than a blank screen.

[turbobloke]

tvrgit said:

approved "standby" messages to be displayed

"this message is here for no valid reason"

"this message is to kid you that your road taxes are well spent"

"this message is government propaganda so ACPO get gongs"

"this message is out of date but we don't care"

[Fer]

"This space intentionally left blank"?

[tvrgit]

turbobloke said:

tvrgit said:

approved "standby" messages to be displayed

"this message is here for no valid reason"

"this message is to kid you that your road taxes are well spent"

"this message is government propaganda so ACPO get gongs"

"this message is out of date but we don't care"

I'm merely telling you why the messages are there.

Whether you agree with them or not is up to you.

[jmorgan]

They put messages up on the M4 around Cardiff and S Wales as well. Things like "poor driving conditions" when it is cats and dogs or"foggy" when it is foggy.

[turbobloke]

tvrgit said:

turbobloke said:

tvrgit said:

approved "standby" messages to be displayed

"this message is here for no valid reason"

"this message is to kid you that your road taxes are well spent"

"this message is government propaganda so ACPO get gongs"

"this message is out of date but we don't care"

I'm merely telling you why the messages are there.

Whether you agree with them or not is up to you.

Yes that was always understood

[arfur]

I saw those this morning ... I did check my speed ... 95 ... yup that will be just fine at 0530 in the morning !!! In fact I checked it each time and the speed was the same each time except for once when it showed 90, so I speeded up again !!

Thanks for reminding me !

[Fort Jefferson]

CommanderJameson said:

The list of messages is designed and approved by ACPO.

It's a pity it isn't done by people who know somthing about traffic management.

[supermono]

You and me on there at the same time. What a conincidence Actually that time the traffic was so light it would have been a crime to go any slower...

SM

[CommanderJameson]

alphadog said:

supermono said:

...Are there any qualificiations required or can some dimwit type whatever they feel like typing? (apparently so)

SM

There was a case of 'WROKFORCE IN ROAD' near Leicester recently.

Anyway, 'tis the highways agency that is responsible for the signs and contents

www.trafficengland.com/TCC/

They can be emailed at [e-mail]

Will drop them a line myself as I have noticed some improvement when the occasional 'Keep left unless overtaking' messages have been displayed.

I work in this field and I can tell you that:

1. There is a facility for setting free-text messages on matrix boards but it's rarely used and certainly not from the RCC.

2. WROKFORCE/IN ROAD wasn't displayed. WORKFORCE IN/ROAD-SLOW is a predefined message that is most certainly not spelt wrongly in East Midlands RCC site data. I have checked.

3. The TCC (to whose website you link) only sets strategic signs and no speeds. For example, you might see "M25 CLOSED J14-J15/USE A5" or something (I made that one up off the top of my head) as you're heading southbound on the M1 - that message would come from the TCC. Tactical signing (ACCIDENT/SLOW DOWN, etc) is done from the RCC. In the case of Leicester, that's the one at Nottingham (East Midlands RCC, covers M1/J14 up to M1/J28 and bits of the 42 and 69).

It should also be pointed out that speed restrictions on the motorway are advisory unless red-ringed. Also, you must obey any signal with a red aspect (i.e. the red X for a lane closure) or that uses red flashing lanterns.

[arfur]

supermono said:

You and me on there at the same time. What a conincidence Actually that time the traffic was so light it would have been a crime to go any slower...

SM

m40 - m25 - a127 most days just to get to the office .... it will be back to normal 2 lanes of lorries and 1 for cars ( even at 0530-0600 ) tomorrow morning ...

[alphadog]

CommanderJameson said:

2. WROKFORCE/IN ROAD wasn't displayed. WORKFORCE IN/ROAD-SLOW is a predefined message that is most certainly not spelt wrongly in East Midlands RCC site data. I have checked.

It was on M1 Southbound J21 on the sign just where the exit slip road parts company - mispelt on on one matrix sign only - all others were correct. Was up for weeks during the SPECS controlled roadworks, however it wasn't that recently - was late summer 2005ish, come to think of it. Blimey how time flies!

Edited by alphadog on Tuesday 2nd January 18:32

[corozin]

Well at least you lot get meaningful messages. Down here in Bournemouth they spent £GodKnowsWhat setting up a network of Traffic Information signalling on the Wessex Way last year, and since it was activated the only "Traffic Information" messages we've had are:

a) "No Incidents"
b) "New Child Seat Laws in Force"
c) "Car Parking available at Castlepoint" (shopping centre)

Gee... thanks guys... pi$$ my ever escalating Council Tax up the wall to get a posh advertising hoarding for the local B&Q...

Edited by corozin on Tuesday 2nd January 18:46

[Calorus]

Fer said:

"This space intentionally left blank"?

That's always bugged me, it should say "This space would have been left blank intentionally, but for the need to tell you that it was intentionally blank"

[deeps]

I've always laughed at the signs covered over with black bags, and another sign placed next to it that states "This sign is not in use"!

[Calorus]

corozin said:

Well at least you lot get meaningful messages. Down here in Bournemouth they spent £GodKnowsWhat setting up a network of Traffic Information signalling on the Wessex Way last year, and since it was activated the only "Traffic Information" messages we've had are:

a) "No Incidents"
b) "New Child Seat Laws in Force"
c) "Car Parking available at Castlepoint" (shopping centre)

Gee... thanks guys... pi$$ my ever escalating Council Tax up the wall to get a posh advertising hoarding for the local B&Q...

Edited by corozin on Tuesday 2nd January 18:46

Actually the "No Incidents" one is pretty crucial on the M25 - I normally get on to it and pootle along at 40mph, stopping every 35 seconds just out of habit.