Another "Grumpy Old Man"
My mischievous sense of humour was titillated recently by an article by Max Hastings which appeared in a national newspaper focussing on the proliferation of nonessential road signs which more and more blight the landscape. The author displayed a degree of eccentricity and a fair slice of "tongue in cheek" in the article but, nonetheless, much of what he wrote I sympathised with. For instance, is it wise or necessary to have our attention distracted by being told that a town or village is "twinned with some obscure location in Belgium or Austria"? Do we really need to be thanked for "driving carefully through Much Binding in the Marsh"? What self respecting burglar is going to give second thoughts to a sign proclaiming "This is a Neighbourhood Watch Area"? These signs really have no road safety application but simply amount to superfluous clutter to the detriment of our natural environment.
I know, it’s sad, but I couldn’t help looking critically at our own area and, sure enough, I didn’t have to look too hard before instances of unnecessary roadside jumble became evident. For instance, in Loose Road, signs advising of "Emergency Vehicle Route", (presumably because both Fire and Ambulance Stations are located there). Are we not to expect fire appliances and ambulances elsewhere in Maidstone? What is the most likely response to being confronted by a sign warning us of "Low Flying Aircraft"? To look skywards of course, for low flying aircraft, instead of concentrating on what might lie ahead! There is no doubting that traffic signs play an important part in the safe management of traffic on our roads where they are used judiciously but the more I looked the more I empathised with the views of Mr. Hastings that much roadside ironwork is there for ironwork’s sake.
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If one accepts that
the foregoing is a little bit of light-hearted reflection on a
genuine cause for concern, what is unacceptable are road signs
that are blatantly misleading. One such example is in Hayle Road
where drivers travelling northwards in the nearside lane are
advised by a white arrow road marking that they can turn left
into King Edward Road. Now we all know that King Edward Road has
a No-Entry restriction from Hayle Road that renders the white
arrow sign nonsensical.
The second relates to College Avenue where, as you enter it from College Road, is emblazoned a sign prohibiting pedestrians. |
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I’m sure that this sign may well have been mistakenly erected instead of the more likely one warning motorists of the possibility of pedestrians being in the carriageway. If it was the intention to display the "Pedestrians Prohibited" sign at this location, then any unfortunate soul living in College Avenue without a car is likely to live a pretty reclusive existence. However, I suppose College Avenue being a private road can display whatever signs it wants.
You will be forgiven for wondering what on earth prompts anyone to trouble themselves over such an issue as that above when there are far more important things in this troubled world of ours to worry about. I put it down to human curiosity that we are all endowed with. |
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No doubt those of you with the stamina to have waded through this piece have now probably added one more eccentric to their list!!
Jeff Foxley.