The Yellow Peril

[Pixie]

I hate the yellow bend markers-for-idiots-who-can't-drive

This is an email I sent to Transit and LTNZ:

I would like to comment on the bend marker sign that have been installed in recent years.
At night, the amount of reflected light that comes back to a driver is as bad as encountering an oncoming vehicle with it's lights on high beam.
The reflected light swamps out the reflectors on the white pastic road markers and makes them virtually impossible to see.This makes it difficult to determine the radius of a bend and makes it more likely that motorists will drive off the road.The yellow signs are not numerous enough to delineate the curve of any particular bend.
Another issue is the steel supports which are a potential hazard to any motorcyclists who may run off the road.
Since these markers have become more common, I have noticed a definite trend for motorists to drive on rural highways ,at night, with their lights on low beam.This is fine until they encounter wandering stock on the road.
If the signs must be used ,I suggest a reflective chevron on a non-reflective background.This will reduce the glare problem.

[HDTboy]

I agree, I hate those new yellow signs

[Wolf]

Good on ya. I find the glare back from those things to be hazardous and it makes night riding less enjoyable. Some bloody corners seem to throw back more light than I thought my vehicle puts out, what with all the speed signs, "Danger!" and "SLOW DOWN" signs and the reflective markers themselves. I frequently find myself dipping the lights as I approach such corners. A decently winding bit of road is like riding into a stream of oncoming traffic.

[Finn]

Pixie, drive to the conditions, if they change reduce your speed.

[Pixie]

Pixie, drive to the conditions, if they change reduce your speed.
If I go any slower,approaching those yellow pieces of shit,I'll fall off

[placidfemme]

I hate the yellow bend markers-for-idiots-who-can't-drive

This is an email I sent to Transit and LTNZ:

I would like to comment on the bend marker sign that have been installed in recent years.
At night, the amount of reflected light that comes back to a driver is as bad as encountering an oncoming vehicle with it's lights on high beam.
The reflected light swamps out the reflectors on the white pastic road markers and makes them virtually impossible to see.This makes it difficult to determine the radius of a bend and makes it more likely that motorists will drive off the road.The yellow signs are not numerous enough to delineate the curve of any particular bend.
Another issue is the steel supports which are a potential hazard to any motorcyclists who may run off the road.
Since these markers have become more common, I have noticed a definite trend for motorists to drive on rural highways ,at night, with their lights on low beam.This is fine until they encounter wandering stock on the road.
If the signs must be used ,I suggest a reflective chevron on a non-reflective background.This will reduce the glare problem.

Very good :) Let us know if they bother to reply

[Beemer]

The reflected light swamps out the reflectors on the white pastic road markers and makes them virtually impossible to see...

Maybe they are made by (s)pastics factories...

Totally agree with you though, and it makes no difference if you are on a bike or in a car, the amount of reflected light it enough to temporarily blind you. Makes me wonder how many fatal crashes are not entirely due to high speed but the fact the driver was dazzled by the light?

[Zukin]

I agree

Can I suggest you post the email address here, and we can all send them the same message if they dont reply favourably:nya:

[Swoop]

...drive to the conditions, if they change reduce your speed.
So when the road dries up, or traffic reduces.... we go slower???

[SwanTiger]

I think that they are pointless however I'd have to agree with what Finn said.


...drive to the conditions

If an on-comming car or road sign is blinding me, I do as the road-code suggestions, which is to focus on the inner or outer white line which reduces or removes the glare problem.

[Finn]

So when the road dries up, or traffic reduces.... we go slower???

Drive to the conditions when it's dry ride like its stolen.

[cowpoos]

great another pointless fuckin thread....the signs are there for homo's that can't drive!!! so lets leave the bastards there....why don't ya save your whinging for something imnportant like the lack of road mantainence...amount we a taxed in fuel....general income tax....blah blah blah fuckin blah....

[SlowHand]

Drive to the conditions when it's dry ride like its stolen.

What if i turn my lights off and close my eyes?

I can't see any hazards, so can I go as fast as I want?

:doobey:

[The_Dover]

What if i turn my lights off and close my eyes?

I can't see any hazards, so can I go as fast as I want?

:doobey:

No, that would make you the other type of yellow peril that is rife on aucklands roads.

[Hitcher]

And those yellow reflectorised signs are much worse in the wet. Try coming down the Waioeka Gorge in a downpour in the middle of the night and you'll see what I mean.

[Wolf]

And those yellow reflectorised signs are much worse in the wet. Try coming down the Waioeka Gorge in a downpour in the middle of the night and you'll see what I mean.
Erm, no thanks. Coming home from Palmy Nth via Waiouru, Ohakune, National Park, Taumarunui and Te Kuiti to Hamilton in inclement weather was dazzling enough in the winding bits.

[R6_kid]

i will have to get a photo of it to prove my point better, but on lonely track road in albany there is a part of the road where they are and are far more of a hazard than anything else.

picture attached sorta shows what happens.

As you can see the entry and exit to the section of road are blocked by trees/bush (from memory) and as you approach it from the bottom of the picture it appears as a straight piece of road with a bend at the end.

The speed limit is 50 or 70, but if you were goin faster or not paying complete attention at night it will catch you out bigtime. The inside of the left hand turn is an off camber ditch and wouldnt help at all if you went off the road there.

[Fatjim]

great another pointless fuckin thread....the signs are there for homo's that can't drive!!! so lets leave the bastards there....why don't ya save your whinging for something imnportant like the lack of road mantainence...amount we a taxed in fuel....general income tax....blah blah blah fuckin blah....

Now it's definately PD.

[Fatjim]

I've got to the point now where I know uncommon sense won't prevail.

We are living in a world where the best way to do things is never done. Get over it, you can't change it, the best you can do is laugh.

[Pixie]

great another pointless fuckin thread....the signs are there for homo's that can't drive!!! so lets leave the bastards there....why don't ya save your whinging for something imnportant like the lack of road mantainence...amount we a taxed in fuel....general income tax....blah blah blah fuckin blah....
You obviously don't think getting blinded approaching a corner at night is a safety issue.

Twat

[Pixie]

Dear Paul

Thank you for your query through the Transit website.

Chevron curve indicator signs were introduced as a means of high lighting deceptive curves with an accident history. Unfortunately, some of our consultants and contractors have specified highly retro-reflective material for these signs on the mistaken basis that "brighter is better" and/or signs have been installed incorrectly. It was hoped that all sites exhibiting this type problem had been corrected but if you know of any that are still causing problems please let us know.

All sign supports likely to be hit by an errant vehicle are either made frangible, i.e. it will break off or fold down in a vehicle impact, or have a shear connection that allows the support to slide off its base when impacted by a vehicle.

Frangible supports are either wood posts (sometimes with weakening holes/slots near ground level) or are tubular aluminium, not steel, posts.

Chevron signs were made with reflective backgrounds/non-reflective stripes because this is the standard warning sign colour scheme. When the correct grade of retroflective material is uses and they are mounted correctly glare problems are minimised and the signs perform satisfactorily.

Regards,
Network Operations Division
Transit New Zealand
National Office

Network Operations Division
National Office
Transit New Zealand
PO Box 5084
Wellington

Ph: 04 499 6600
Fax: 04 499 6777



I have replied to the effect that all of SH 16 is a problem

[HDTboy]

And all of the CoroGP is a problem. And the Tauranga- Rotorua direct road.
Ask Postie how well the Frangible supports shear off, he had one mutilate his leg

[Lou Girardin]

You could add that the probelm is worse for oldies, a growing proportion of the population. (and an extremely grumpy one too)

[Lou Girardin]

And all of the CoroGP is a problem. And the Tauranga- Rotorua direct road.
Ask Postie how well the Frangible supports shear off, he had one mutilate his leg

That's frangible, as in if a car hits it it'll break. We don't count for shit.
Maybe we should take a leaf out of the Shiites book, hurt one of us and ten of you will pay. That'll sort Transit out.

[Squeak the Rat]

I thought Frangible was a type of bullet. Yep, they're safe......:yes:

[Pixie]

It's a tropical flower

[The_Dover]

Ask Postie how well the Frangible supports shear off, he had one mutilate his leg

Yeah, but Postie is about as hard as blancmange!

Had a real man, on a Suzuki, hit that post it would have been in trouble. The rider would have been fine.

[nodrog]

Yeah, but Postie is about as hard as blancmange!

Had a real man, on a Suzuki, hit that post it would have been in trouble. The rider would have been fine.

tomthepohm gets that award:rockon:

[Hitcher]

It's a tropical flower
You're thinking of an orchard...

[crazylittleshit]

to much reading me elitarited:o

[HDTboy]

You're thinking of an orchard...
Orchard or Orchid?

[Hitcher]

Orchard or Orchid?
Snap. Just sitting here reeling them in...

[Ixion]

Hadn't really been bothered by them, until last night .

Coming back northward from Clevedon, just after the turn off from Twilight Rd, before the 90 degree left hander toward Whitford.

Gentle bend , no need for any sign , and ALL I can see is this vast yellow blaze ahead.

Tried main beam , dip beam (YES! HEADLIGHTS! I have FINALLY got the blurdy charging system on the Titan sorted. Blurdy unverdammit AC phasing ! I now have the glorious total of one whole amp of charge with the lights on. I can't really complain though, cos that is due to swapping the 25/30W original headlamp bulb for a 60/65W ).

Still just a yellow blaze of light, couldn't see anything of the road. Looking away, left right, nothing worked, finally just went round by memory.

I'm all for a campaign to get rid of them, preferably with axes and matches.

[Goblin]

It's a tropical flower
No...that's frangipani...lovely:yes:



Those yellow reflectors are a curse at night, in the rain:angry:

[Drum]

Just another case of "cant please everyone".

If you took the signs down, someone would complain.
If you put them back up, someone would complain.
If you made them brighter, someone would complain.
If you made them less reflective, someone would complain.

Oh, and its pretty rich Transit blaming their contractors and consultants, because Transit specify the exact grade of reflectiveness for their signs - the decision is not made by their contractors or consultants.

I feel like complaining.