Change To Information On Motorway Signs
Friday, 4. November 2011
Image via Wikipedia
Now here’s something interesting. I’m sure you’ve seen the signs on the motorway that shows a junction and an idea of the time it will take you to get there, something like ‘You will reach the A3 in 15 miles, 13 minutes’. Not quite sure of the purpose unless you take it as a bit of a challenge and see if you can reach it in 10 minutes whilst an unmarked police car catches you tipping the ton! Another sucker! Well now the government is planning a change to the information included on electronic signs to advise on the rail alternative and actions like reminding people to switch their engines off in a jam and even advising that you should take a break just before services knowing that there is a traffic jam ahead.
A train example would be ‘London to Birmingham in just 49 mins by high speed rail!’ The proposals, expected to be approved by the Secretary of State by the end of the year.
The Department for Transport carried out a survey and over half thought that the rail information was a good idea. What they didn’t say was that only 210 people responded to the survey.
Good grief, hardly overwhelming bloody support. In addition to the extra information being included on motorway signs is the move to reduce the number of road signs by replacing them with road markings where possible and fixing them on walls where appropriate rather than have masses of poles in the pavement.
In London the councils will have the authority to mount signs on private walls without the need for permission from the property owner. This rule could be rolled out across the country if successful.
So the next time you’re sitting on the M42 trying to get into Birmingham I’m sure you will be delighted to see the rail information, best you don’t carry any sharp implements in the car! By Graham Hill
