Had a thought while pootling up from Dover to the Midlands via M20, M25 & M1 last night(not a bad journey 'cos we set off from Dover at 9.30 pm - only one hold up where 3 lanes of the M25 were coned off for 3 miles or so so that 2 men could seemingly hand paint some white lines).
However, to get to the point, those big new overhead illuminated signs for messages seemed sadly underused. There was only one or two used on the M25 and they just said that motorists should "expect long delays J25 to Heathrow on Friday" and I don't suppose that would be news to many. But could these signs be used for safety notices? How about "Use inside lane except when overtaking", or "Is your child belted up in the back", "Have you checked your tyre pressures", "Don't tailgate - keep your distance" or even "Get off that mobile phone while driving" or "Switch those b****y fog lights off - it ain't foggy" or "It's dark now, how about switching on dipped headlights instead of those invisible parking lights?" (a bit long winded that! but you get my point!)
Or would these be too distracting?
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That's far too simple and straightforward for the boneheads at the DOT. No doubt there'll be a 400 page report that a consultant has been paid to compile saying why it can't be done.
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They seem to manage it ok in Scotland. The overhead signs on the A9 are used for exactly this purpose. Although the one that said "when in town, slow down" had me and DieselBoy in fits of laughter (try reading in an outrageously camp, over-affected Scottish accent). Ho hum...
Cheers
Rob
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I did some driving in Scotland a while ago and they did just what you suggested - dot matrix signs with messages such as don't drink-driving, do take rests etc.
I must confess I found the preachy tone a bit grating, although the "check you have enought petrol" one reminded me to fill up before returning the hire car!
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Blimey Peter, we must be psychic :-)
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They use them for info up here too....although as it's Wolverhampton it's of the "West Midlands police advise you to lock your car" variety.
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......that's almost like having SWMBO in the car with you!! :-)
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On the M60 during the fire strikes the messages would read "Fire Strike, Slow Down" or something along those lines. I have also seen them advise that slower speeds lead to use of less fuel.
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I prefer PhilW's ideas of what these signs should display!
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They do this in France all the time. Safety messages like Tiredness kills, check your tyre pressures etc. In French of course:o) Some constantly display the time and temperature.
My favourite is on the Autoroute du Soleil and reads "Slow down - the sea won't evaporate".
Terry
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My favourite is on the Autoroute du Soleil and reads "Slow down - the sea won't evaporate".
Not the Aral sea then!
I thought the point was to give urgent messages about road conditions ahead - fog, lane closures, accidents. If they are just full up with the usual nannyish dos and donts, people will stop bothering to read them.
I'm surprised they haven't thought of putting advertising on them.
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In Australia they have fixed roadside signs on the highways with 'Return to left after overtaking' which seem to work well. I've always thought that we could do with something similar on our motorways.
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