Some road signs for the scrap heap!

[Coco]

Another is the "umbrella man", which looks like a man struggling to put up his brolly, but actually means roadworks ahead.

Dear God! I knew Sun readers were thick but surely everyone knows that one. Agree with the VED quiz idea.

 

[gavintc]

This is a remarkable statement on the stupidity of the average Sun reader. Some of these signs are common across Europe so changing them will not be as simple as the Sun believes/desires.

 

[downfader]

This is a remarkable statement on the stupidity of the average Sun reader. Some of these signs are common across Europe so changing them will not be as simple as the Sun believes/desires.

Believe me, this is nothing. On a Sun story about kiddie fiddlers someone once made the comment that men should be banned from looking after kids.

 

[Coco]

Having taken a detour through Google, I've discovered who is to blame for all these signs. Yep you guessed it:

Modern British road signage can be traced to the development of the 'ordinary' bicycle and the establishment of clubs to further the interests of its riders, notably the Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC), the National Cyclists' Union (NCU) and the Scottish Cyclists' Union (SCU). By the early 1880s all three organisations were erecting their own cast iron 'danger boards'. Importantly, as the name suggests, these signs warned of hazards, rather than just stating distances and/or giving direction to places, acknowledging the fact that cyclists, like modern motorists, were unlikely to be familiar with the roads they were travelling along and were travelling too fast to take avoiding action without prior warning. In addition, it was the cycling lobby that successfully pressured government (in 1888) into vesting ownership of and responsibility for roads with county councils in previously established Highway Districts (HDs) that would be funded from taxation rather than tolls. The HDs were active in the erection of semi-standardised direction signs and mileposts in the latter years of the 19th century.

 

[crazy580]

"But a red circle with a person and a line through it means people are allowed - it's the sign for the end of a no-pedestrian zone. It can be incredibly confusing."

Is this true? Can't see it in the online highway code. I don't think I've ever seen a red circle sign with a line through it being used for the end of anything

Its not in the Know your traffic signs book either, the only one there is, is a person in a red circle, which means no pedestrians.

The only signs with red bars across them, as well as a red circle, are where changes of direction are prohibited.

 

[gavintc]

Having taken a detour through Google, I've discovered who is to blame for all these signs. Yep you guessed it

Bloody cyclists; they jump red lights, don't pay road tax, weave all over the place and to cap it all ..... they developed ridiculous road signs that no one understands. Ban them all...

.

Love it - must remember that one for my next discussion with my cycle hating colleagues.

 

[wesa]

Ben_B / Crazy580. I noticed the same comment and did the same digging, I can't see this sign in the highway code, know your traffic signs, the Traffic Signs Regulations, on anywhere on planet Google!

I am happy to be proven wrong but would it be fair to say that this is another politician minister talking a load of rubbish.

 

[DrSquirrel]

People don't understand the highway code either, lets scrap that - or, why don't we not bother with a driving test. That will work.

 

[gaz]

What is number 4?

What is confusing is the fact they have put signs with numbers next to them on a picture full of signs. Sun readers will not be able to understand that.

 

[ian789]

What is number 4?

Angry motorist about to blow their top and swear at cyclists

 

[atbman]

To be fair, if you read the Sun readers' comments, they agree pretty much with what we're saying, i.e. that they're all part of the Highway code and they're not difficult to understand.

Mind you, wasn't Baker the minister who said that cyclists should fit wing mirrors in his first press release?

 

[Dan B]

The only signs with red bars across them, as well as a red circle, are where changes of direction are prohibited.

And the "no smoking" sign.

And the Ghostbusters logo.

 

[HJ]

Anyone who finds the signs shown confusing should have failed their driving test highway code questions or theory test.

Therein lies the problem, most motorist forget the everything the HC says as soon as they pass their test. Instead of scrapping the signs, there should be compulsory retesting every five years and anyone failing should loose their license until they can pass it...

 

[downfader]

I dont think theres any point saying its just motorists getting confused. I've had a couple in those online tests/quizes that have stumped me.. They're usually blue, weirdly. Does anyone think I'm anti-smurf?

 

[crazy580]

And the "no smoking" sign.

And the Ghostbusters logo.

They are not traffic signs