LED Speed Signs

atom · Scooby Slapper Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Karma :

I was coming into work today on the dual carriage way and there were illuminated speed signs with a fifity limit on them, Red circle around etc, but made up in LEDS at the road side. They only come on in the morning I think, Its the stretch of dual carriage way from the forth road bridge to Crammond Brig.

I thought that they were like the speed warning on a motorway so not legally binding as it were, is this the case? Me and most other people were doing 70 through them.
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iCraig · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Karma :

They are there to warn you that your going too fast.

The speed limit on them is legal limit for that road.

I have also read that many more motorists pay attention to this kind of sign than any other speed reducing equiptment, I myself certainly do pay attention, cos it makes you aware of what speed you doing and slowing down to that speed rather than slowing down for a speed camera and then speeding back up again.

ProXimaCore · Dougal Joined: 01 May 2003 Karma :

You usually see them on the actual forth road bridge itself. Usually when it's very windy, they'll drop it down to 30mph. It was like that on Saturday night when I was heading over that way. Although I think these ones don't have a red circle round them, so I don't know if that makes a difference.
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iCraig · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Karma :

I presume you mean something along the lines of one of these:

https://www.camcycle.org.uk/newsletters/33/images/SpdHarst.JPG

atom · Scooby Slapper Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Karma :

I'm thinking the red circle is probably marking some kind of a difference, as far as I'm aware the motorway style orange flashing lights type are advisory only.

The forth road bridge really flings up some extreme weather riding, I've been blown about it a fair bit myself and another time the visibility just dissapeared in the har.

The signs im talking about are not the same as the ones advising you your going to fast, because they're on all rush hour. And most times they're off and the limit is 70.
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atom · Scooby Slapper Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Karma :

Born2bVile · Spanner Monkey Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

They have loads of these signs round here (Watchmans, I think they're called). Quite often they have a camera placed nearby.

They are supposedly place at accident blackspots.

I find it puzzling why they think a sign suddenly flashing at you will make the area safer. All it does is distract your attention away from the road.

Cheers,

Byrnie.
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Rory · Traffic Copper Joined: 14 May 2004 Karma :

My understanding was that they only flash at you if you're exceeding the speed limit, so it's sort-of handy where you think you've slowed down for e.g. a village, but your sense of speed is distorted and you're actually doing 40 in a 30, say.

They also apparently don't flash over a certain speed limit, to stop people from trying to set high scores Smile

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Andy99 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Karma :

Sorry,but they are not advisory.
The're telling you the speed limit on the road (like a nomal speed limit sign would)and also that you are exceeding the speed limit.
So slow down you naughty criminal you Smile

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89CBRChris · Scooby Slapper Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Karma :

I passed a few of them today that were flashing the speed you were doing as you went past, nice to check the speedos still acurate(ish). Thumbs Up

atom · Scooby Slapper Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Karma :

Well, I think thats the most in excess of the speed limit I've done then +20. Oh well, didnt notice any speed cameras flashing though there are plenty around there. I take heart from the fact that the bikers who had formed a posse in front of me on the bridge were no where to be seen, I think the big boys were doing well in excess of the speed limit.
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carvell · Scuttler Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Karma :

They have one of them outside my old school, flashes up when you exceed 30mph, also one near it that flashes up in massive letters "CROSSROAD, SLOW DOWN" if you are going too fast, that one is good because it has caught people out before and there's been a few accidents at the crossroads.

The one outside the school is a bit pointless 90% of the time. The thing is on 24/7, I'm hardly going to go 30mph past it at 3:30am on a Sunday morning when the school is dead.
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