Flashing "30mph" signs
Discussion
They've just installed some more of those signs that flash if you're going too fast near my house. Problem is, they are just after a 40mph limit, and are set off even if you slow down to 30mph by the time you enter the 30 zone.
Seems a bit of a bad idea really. If I am going to be flashed at when I'm driving legally, it will reduce the impact of the other ones, those that are set correctly.
Seems a bit of a bad idea really. If I am going to be flashed at when I'm driving legally, it will reduce the impact of the other ones, those that are set correctly.
Went through one myself last night at Upwell, flashed at me too, and I think you know by now how I drive. Doing about 32. Like you say, they should be a little further into the limit if they are set that low.
Also they should consider the fact that at night, in rain, cars coming towards you, something similar to Blackpool illuminations going off to your nearside is at best distracting. I personally sh1t myself and nearly took evasive action into the oncoming traffic. I then spent the next 20 metres looking at the thing, not good. If they're going to use them then leave them flashing on the egdge of the limit and have a second set about 200 mtrs in that do detect speed as a reminder, might not be such a shock.
Andy
Also they should consider the fact that at night, in rain, cars coming towards you, something similar to Blackpool illuminations going off to your nearside is at best distracting. I personally sh1t myself and nearly took evasive action into the oncoming traffic. I then spent the next 20 metres looking at the thing, not good. If they're going to use them then leave them flashing on the egdge of the limit and have a second set about 200 mtrs in that do detect speed as a reminder, might not be such a shock.
Andy
andyf007 said: Also they should consider the fact that at night, in rain, cars coming towards you, something similar to Blackpool illuminations going off to your nearside is at best distracting. I personally sh1t myself and nearly took evasive action into the oncoming traffic. I then spent the next 20 metres looking at the thing, not good.
You reaction tells me that you're one of those poeple who probably needs their eyesight testing/correcting then..
www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp/storyId=5839
This explains a few things..
Night vision - many drivers who experience no problems in daylight conditions have great difficulty in driving at night and find the dazzle of oncoming vehicles blinding.
>> Edited by CarZee on Thursday 21st November 12:00
The only place I have seen such things doing any good at all in in France. I've seen several there that light up to warn of a dodgy bend (for example) at the end of a straight, and are activated by radar.
The rash of these 'know your speed' type signs are, as you point out, an annoyance at best and dangerous at worst.
The rash of these 'know your speed' type signs are, as you point out, an annoyance at best and dangerous at worst.
I disagree. I have seen road furntiure arranged in the following sequence - each about 100 to 200 yards apart:
1) Big 30 mph sign
2) Speed camera sign
3) Slow down sign which illuminates above 30mph
4) Speed camera.
All on a build up stretch of road which follows a fast open stretch.
The combination does a great job in getting people down to a sensible speed for the road in question. And if after all this you still speed past the Gatso and get done - well you're a nob!!
1) Big 30 mph sign
2) Speed camera sign
3) Slow down sign which illuminates above 30mph
4) Speed camera.
All on a build up stretch of road which follows a fast open stretch.
The combination does a great job in getting people down to a sensible speed for the road in question. And if after all this you still speed past the Gatso and get done - well you're a nob!!
CarZee said:
andyf007 said: Also they should consider the fact that at night, in rain, cars coming towards you, something similar to Blackpool illuminations going off to your nearside is at best distracting. I personally sh1t myself and nearly took evasive action into the oncoming traffic. I then spent the next 20 metres looking at the thing, not good.
You reaction tells me that you're one of those poeple who probably needs their eyesight testing/correcting then..
www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp/storyId=5839This explains a few things..
Night vision - many drivers who experience no problems in daylight conditions have great difficulty in driving at night and find the dazzle of oncoming vehicles blinding.
>> Edited by CarZee on Thursday 21st November 12:00
Should've seen that one coming too
. Eyes are fine 
. The bloody thing went off at about 20 metres away, which put it in that upper edge of the screen where the wipers don't get. Sparkled like hell. Wouldn't have been a problem if it started flashing a bit sooner. Had to look at it to see what it said. They had a mobile one near my place once and it showed your actual speed, this one didn't.
Andy
I got zapped by one in a 50 zone a while back.
First reaction;
What the f*** is that!!!
Second reaction;
How fast am I going?!? (53ish, not accounting for over-reading speedo)
Third reaction;
Was there a camera linked into it? *looks out of rear of car*
Fourth reaction;
Aaargh! Corner tightening!!!! *squeal of tyres*
It certainly made me think; but about watching the road, not the speed limit!
First reaction;
What the f*** is that!!!
Second reaction;
How fast am I going?!? (53ish, not accounting for over-reading speedo)
Third reaction;
Was there a camera linked into it? *looks out of rear of car*
Fourth reaction;
Aaargh! Corner tightening!!!! *squeal of tyres*
It certainly made me think; but about watching the road, not the speed limit!
When these Flashing 30mph / Limit signs are correctly placed I think they're great.
To my mind they're much more about road safety than GATSOs. They notify you of your speed and remind you of what the limit is. If they're sited prior to a hazard what could be better than that?
You have to PAY for a Geodesy that does the same thing.
To my mind they're much more about road safety than GATSOs. They notify you of your speed and remind you of what the limit is. If they're sited prior to a hazard what could be better than that?
You have to PAY for a Geodesy that does the same thing.
Good grief, are you finally getting these things down there now? I remember seeing one of these signs outside West Linton, (A702)in Peebleshire, at least twenty years ago. Great idea. Before GATSO's, of course, but the local plod was quite fascist with his speed gun. Anyone who ignored the sign did so at their peril.
I read somewhere about one of these signs, but it differed from the others by being mobile.
They placed it i think on the outskirts of a village somewhere, only problem was, it didnt slow anyone down.
Just the opposite in fact.
What happened was, the local boy racers got all their mates down and they took it in turns to see who could get the highest reading on it....LMAO.
Gives a whole new meaning to "watch your speed".
They placed it i think on the outskirts of a village somewhere, only problem was, it didnt slow anyone down.
Just the opposite in fact.
What happened was, the local boy racers got all their mates down and they took it in turns to see who could get the highest reading on it....LMAO.
Gives a whole new meaning to "watch your speed".
Generally these are not approved devices, so like tachographs can't be used as evidence of speed in court.
Developed an unfortunate reputation as Homer Simpson detection devices. Some twat would appear in court on a driving charge, having totalled his car on a tight bend. Police witness comes along and tells the court a detection device was operational 100 yards prior to the corner, warning the driver of his speed, which was detected above the limit, and therefore reminding him to slowe down. Clearly he didn't, overshot the bend, and landed on his roof. At this point the nickname became obvious, as the driver slaps his head saying "Doh".
These genuinely are road safety devices, not cash machines. Even if you ignore GATSO, slow down for them. These were also a testing bed for automatic number plate recognition, but unless I fancy David Shayler as a room mate, Official secrets and all that, can't say any more.
Developed an unfortunate reputation as Homer Simpson detection devices. Some twat would appear in court on a driving charge, having totalled his car on a tight bend. Police witness comes along and tells the court a detection device was operational 100 yards prior to the corner, warning the driver of his speed, which was detected above the limit, and therefore reminding him to slowe down. Clearly he didn't, overshot the bend, and landed on his roof. At this point the nickname became obvious, as the driver slaps his head saying "Doh".
These genuinely are road safety devices, not cash machines. Even if you ignore GATSO, slow down for them. These were also a testing bed for automatic number plate recognition, but unless I fancy David Shayler as a room mate, Official secrets and all that, can't say any more.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff