Jeremy Clarkson wins: UK reviewing all traffic signs
Clarkson has a thing against roadside signs in the UK: namely, that a great many of them are stupid, and he wants the government to get rid of them. Turns out that Britain's Department for Transportation (DfT) might agree with him, but first they're going to review all the signs in Britain to see how they can make things better. It will be the largest review of signage in 40 years.
Among the variety of objectives, the review aims to examine new sign technologies to help manage traffic flow, provide better information, and reduce accidents and emissions. Another unsaid aim of the DfT is probably to get Clarkson off its back, which is always good for everyone. The first DfT meeting will take place next month, with the first plan of action for creating "signs fit for the 21st century" coming in about a year.
[Source: Britain Depatment for Transport | Photo from Wikicommons, Credit: Dickbauch]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mobius_1 10:07AM (9/16/2008)
Having seen his news segments where some of the most stupid ones are showcased, it is definitely something to be done, and not just by the UK either
btw, I love the "Thank you for driving safely through the village sign" with the wreck attached to it.
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CH 11:15AM (9/16/2008)
Can you post a link to the section where you found them? I was roaming through the page and did not find them.
Thank you.
Mobius_1 1:19AM (9/17/2008)
Just watch the news segments from Top Gear Season 11, they find some positively hilarious signs... Try Youtube, unless BBC has claimed copyright for them all
CarlosMC 9:28PM (9/17/2008)
If they started by adopting international standards, rather than just being snobs and using text signs like they do (imagine if everyone else did the same - in each own language...), that alone would be a big improvement.
Gardiner Westbound 10:10AM (9/16/2008)
Roundabouts are scary as hell. According to the sign there are five in close proximity. I wonder how many make it to Marlborough without a stay in intensive care?
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Galley 10:12AM (9/16/2008)
Five regular roundabouts form one huge roundabout? I'm dizzy already!
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Galley 10:15AM (9/16/2008)
The diagram is even scarier!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Swindon_Magic_Roundabout_eng.svg
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Jim in Tampa 10:29AM (9/16/2008)
Yikes, Galley, that is scarey!!!
Civil engineering running amuck.
bob 10:31AM (9/16/2008)
Is this a result of them driving on the wrong side of the road? Because here where we drive on the right side, we can manage the traffic flow with a single roundabout.
LeRobert 11:09AM (9/16/2008)
Apparently, the engineers' intention was for there to be more than one way for drivers to reach their desired feeder road. But I say it's just more ways for them to crash into one another.
ehisforadam 1:31PM (9/16/2008)
I'll take a Michigan Left any day over that....thing.
Alex 2:11PM (9/16/2008)
That is the problem with the US, the traffic does not flow. I'd bet that US drivers waste about 30% of all fuel consumed sitting at stoplights/signs. Whereas in the UK you seldom need to stop or even slow much at roundabout after roundabout. Is it a bit to get used to? Yes. Does it work about a ZILLION times better than mega-intersections and traffic lights. Heck yea.
jv2k 2:16PM (9/16/2008)
Who the hell is designing roads in england?
Mel. R 10:29AM (9/16/2008)
This is something that grew to take on a life of its own. There's even a Flickr group that TG set up where everyone can post their own particular useless road signage.
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DannyBoyUK 10:33AM (9/16/2008)
So in other words, something Jeremy Clarkson has said has been listened to.
I thought this day would never come. Thanks Jezza, now can you do something about the traffic?
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Kitko 10:44AM (9/16/2008)
This is actual birds' view
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/images/2007/10/22/msn_magic_roundabout_470x350.jpg
Roundabouts are great when used at the right spots for the right purpose. French and Germans do them right. Britain's way of putting them everywhere is plain crazy, as is this Magic Roundabout. Who on earht came with the idea of using roundabouts to guide the traffic from and to highways. You have 5 lane roundabouts with 6 possible exits with directions indicated ONLY on the tarmac. Or 200 hundred METERS before the roundabout.
Which is BTW, another British specialty. ALL roadsigns must be positioned using metric measures, for example, 200 meters before a junction, or 2 kilometers before exit, etc. But they have to indicate distance in miles or yards. In other words, they are never correct.
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LeRobert 11:17AM (9/16/2008)
Try counting the accidents that happen daily around Place de l'Etoile in Paris and I'm certain you'd revise your view that the French got it right. The roundabouts in Paris sure make for a beautiful satellite photo, though.
Jon 2:30PM (9/16/2008)
that's interesting... placing the signs in metres and indicating them in miles lol
Allan 10:45AM (9/16/2008)
Good god... people here can't even figure out a simple 4-way round about (that should really just be a regular intersection).
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Raghu 10:57AM (9/16/2008)
I have actually driven that Swindon roundabout, where the sign is from, a few times... it really is pretty functional when you are driving.
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