Vocal Voices

... but some new "developments" in those "Your speed is" electronic signs round here are really starting to get my goat.

I'm the sort of trilby hat driver quite happy to bumble along at 26 or 27 in a 30 mph limit, and I'm quite used to those signs that flash green "28" but red "31" and so on. They are actually quite helpful.

But in Balsall Common near here, there's a "30 mph limit SLOW DOWN" sign that flashes not just when you're doing 32 or 33 - it flashes at every car, even if you're doing 25. Similarly in Stourbridge, there's a "School SLOW DOWN" sign that flashes at every car, 24/7, even on a Saturday afternoon when I'm heading for the footie. And yes, I'm travelling well within the limit.

Now today, a new sign in Little Aston. It's a 30 mph limit. And I was doing 27. It flashed 27 - but in red! ..... I swore "merde!" and jammed on all the anchors before thinking hang on, it's a 30 limit on this stretch. OK there's a school close by, but it was 10:00 am, there's no belisha crossing or anything, or compulsory 20mph stretch - it's still a 30 limit.

Dunno about you but I find this sort of nannying increasingly irritating - and making unsuspecting motorists slam on their anchors is more likely to cause an accident, surely .....

Do not get me started on the 20MPH zones cropping up everywhere, even on arterial roads! Where they are situated before and after school gates I can just about go along with them, but they are now everywhere and cover all day and all night....... and many are supported by scameras. It is very easy for the innocent to get caught out.

As for the pop-up signs with the bright LEDs. There is one near my sister's and it gives you a nice green 'smilie' if you are doing 29 or less, and a big red 'frownie' if you are doing 30 or more. It is situated just after a downhill bend on a tree lined road and it frightens the life out of you even when you know it is there!

Surely anything that distracts a driver is hazardous?

There is one on the road leading to one of the junctions on the M6 which I use regularly. It will flash red even when I am only doing 27mph.
I can be the only car at the time yet it still flashes.
I like the ones which give you a smiley or a frownie depending upon your speed.