Moving displays

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Mon 1 Aug 2005 11:37
Moving displays - Dipstick
Sorry if we've been down this route before. Getting forgetful these days. (I used to have a memory like a..oh, what's it called...)

I was thinking about spending £39 on a Maplin moving digital display, where you can put in a preprogrammed message and it scrolls across. The idea would be to put it in the back window and have messages (there can be up to 26 apparently) like "please back off" or "sorry", etc. The text is 35mm high, so readable from a sensible distance.

Never mind the issue about how you would actually trigger the thing safely whilst driving - ingenuity will get over that one. My thought is - would anybody have a view as to legality of using such a device in a moving car?


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Mon 1 Aug 2005 11:47
Moving displays - David Horn
You used to be able to buy one... the control was by your right hand and it would say things like "SORRY!".
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Mon 1 Aug 2005 12:23
Moving displays - AngryJonny
As long as you're not tempted to put "POLICE STOP" up on it, you're probably ok.


For little polite messages like "THANKS" or "SORRY" it could be useful, but I'd advise against using it to display anything confrontational. You never know who you're going to rub up the wrong way.
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Mon 1 Aug 2005 13:00
Moving displays - Big Bad Dave
I?d flash up my mobile number everytime I passed a hot chick
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Mon 1 Aug 2005 13:12
Moving displays - Adam {P}
Then they'd overtake you flashing......







































......."NO CHANCE PAL!"
--
Adam
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Mon 1 Aug 2005 13:25
Moving displays - Big Bad Dave
And yours could say

"It?s goooooooooooooold!"
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Mon 1 Aug 2005 13:28
Moving displays - Adam {P}
;-)
--
Adam
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Mon 1 Aug 2005 13:30
Moving displays - David Horn
Why flash just your mobile number?



Could someone pass me the coat? ;)
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Mon 1 Aug 2005 13:35
Moving displays - Big Bad Dave
If you want serious flashing, follow the party bus around Blackpool on a Saturday when it?s full of hen night babes.

It?s boobtastic.
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Mon 1 Aug 2005 14:17
Moving displays - smokie
Just a thought - are these things 12v?
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Mon 1 Aug 2005 14:33
Moving displays - Dipstick
It runs off four batteries (or an external power adapter). I would imagine I'd rig up a solution that turned it on and off as required, so the battery life wouldn't be an issue.

I'm sure it could be useful actually if used constructively - not just to apologise, but to ask people to move over from the middle lane, or perhaps to turn on/off lights, that kind of a caper - all phrased politely and informatively of course - I appreciate the point about annoying other drivers.

Nobody has immediately said it's illegal, which is encouraging!
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Tue 2 Aug 2005 11:07
Moving displays - Hawesy1982
For "Sorry" or "Thanks" then yes it's a nice idea.

For anything negative like "Please back off" or "Please use inside lane" however, i fear there'd be the occasional inconsiderate driver who would just make it a good deal worse for you, and wouldn't appreciate your 'better driving tip'.

The solution to this would be to always wear a high-vis jacket whilst driving. My dad used to have to wear a high-vis jacket all day whilst driving his mondeo doing motorway maintenance stuff, and always said people in front of him in the fast lane invariably got out of his way and slowed down ASAP as they thought he was uncover traffic police!
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