Bashful road signs

There’s something odd taking place on one of my regular commutes to work. Just recently some new signs have been erected but they do seem to be a little bashful. They're hiding under bags.

From their size and shape they show signs (ahem) of being new speed limit indicators. But for the life of me I can’t imagine why they’re hiding under black plastic bags.

Surely the Highways Agency haven't begun fly tipping disused roadsigns? Or have these signs got something to be ashamed of? What shameful exploits could have possibly occurred to cause such boring signs to hide in disgrace? Have they had the road sign equivalent of botox gone wrong? Have they been involved in a sordid tryst with the M25 electronic gantries? Or are they merely playing hide and seek with some traffic cones? I’m surprised that they’re not drooping slightly as they hang their heads in shame at the almost inevitable truth that these signs are in fact about to impose an unnecessary evil upon the unknowing commuting public – a reduction in speed limit.

If you travel the London bound stretch of the A40 past Polish War Memorial on a weekday morning you’d be very lucky to get into 3rd never mind 5th gear. I thank my lucky stars on the rare occassion this happens, it's usually followed by an extraordinarily cheerful day. But the reality is usually that the sheer number of cars prevents speeds little over 30mph, so is a reduction entirely necessary?

I’ve also discovered that this particular stretch of road, unlike it's parrallel sister the M4, is below the national average when it comes to accidents and has very little pedestrian activity. All in all a pretty safe, reliable bit of black top, albeit at a rather sedentary pace.

There has been very little in the way of publicity to indicate the limit is about to be changed. I really would be unsurprised if shortly after the signs are unveiled and enforceable that they are accompanied by that shiny unequivocally upstanding pillar of society; Mr Speed Camera esq. Rising up over all it purveys, flashing to catch the early morning bleary eyed sign-ignorant motorist. Or a hand held gun, little difference both would have the same consequence.

This scenario happened on a short local road near me a couple of years ago. The speed was changed literally overnight from 40mph to 30mph with no forewarning. Now I didn’t have a problem with this as the road separated a housing estate with a large local park, so was used by many children, joggers, dog walkers and such. The reduction was a genuine safety concern. In the first four weeks following the reduction there was an almost hysterical amount of speeding tickets issued as a result of the new speed camera installation and regular police patrols.

But surely it would be the motorists’ fault for exceeding the speed limit they deserve to be punished? Fines are a consequence of speeding not of cameras - aren't they? I’m actually not so sure. Can you honestly admit to paying 100% attention whilst driving every single journey you take? You could be travelling in the ligitimate belief that you are adhering to the speed limit. Interesting thought.

The cynicism in me would lead me to believe it’s an easy way to earn revenue, or a motoring ‘stealth tax’. The Association of British Drivers www.abd.org.uk would probably suggest this use of cameras and restriction is to enforce a congestion reduction scheme and I have to say I think there’s a traffic enforcer somewhere nudging me in the back of my mind winking knowingly in answer to that theory.

If you’re brutally honest, if you travel along the same road every single day – do you pay attention to the signs or have they just become part of your peripheral vision? For the most part with me, I think this could be true. Everyday signs are something you know are there but are a constant, mostly static and unchanging so you don’t really bother giving much attention to them. It’s almost certainly because I’m so curious that I noted the new incognito signs, therefore when they’re in force, will regular users actually notice the speed limit has changed?

I have been told that the A40 was part of the West London speed camera demonstration project, which analysed changes in rate of accidents and casualties over a 36 month period and was a catalyst for the increase in camera erections. From my interpretation of the statistics it does actually appear that there was roughly an 8% reduction in accidents due to the presence of the camera. Which is of course a good thing and I would actively encourage ongoing studies of traffic flow and external influences, even if the findings do make for excellent bedtime reading. But my argument is; that where there is little opportunity to actually speed due to high levels of congestion, is it really necessary to reduce the limit and enforce it with a camera?

There has been some argument for variable speed limits throughout the 24-hour period on the main London commuter routes to reflect the levels of congestion, with higher speeds allowable when there’s very little traffic, as seen on an M25 near you. I think this would be an interesting and beneficial addition, but high costs keep this a mere pipedream.

I await the unveiling of my bashful road signs and maybe I’ll be proved wrong and they won’t be reducing the speed but messages of cheer for the commuter weary traveller. But I fear my journey time is just about to be increased.