Temporary road signs turned 90 degrees while not needed, dangerous practice

**jellywrestler** · 9th August 2012, 20:13

One of the most dangerous roadworking practices I've come across is roadworkers signs being turned 90 Degrees to normal after hours and between daily works rather than being laid down or removed.
Basically road signs have a decent cross sectional area when they're in situ but turned 90 degrees they are nothing better than a Bacon Slicer and invisible making them a hazard to motorcyclists who can run the risk of hitting them particulalry on corners while leaning over.
If anyone finds any please take photos noting time date and location of them as NZTA is trying to put an end to this practice.
BTW this was a formal approach through out beloved MOTONZ and they've gone to the NZTA and now there's a formal procedure in place to get it stopped.
Post piccies here or PM me

**MSTRS:Me** · 10th August 2012, 08:37

Good idea. And while on the subject of road works signs and dangerous practices...
Leaving them on display when there is no reason (ie Men Working - when it is patently obvious that there is no-one there at midnight/whenever). That just leads to an overall contempt for all warning signs and a tendency to ignore them on approach - with the subsequent panic when the sign wasn't lying.

**Road kill** · 10th August 2012, 16:52

I don't know about anybody else "yeah OK I do" but anyway,if I'm riding through a road works area it doesn't actually take a road sign to slow me down a little and be that little bit more alert for fuckwit's that would run into road signs,,turned in any direction.
this was just a dumb joke,,,right,,,please ??
OMFG.

**Akzle** · 10th August 2012, 17:14

Jah. Anyone who approaches roadworks at a speed that a blunt edged sign and 1" box steel would "bacon slice" them, probably had it coming. Post pics of THAT.

**jellywrestler** · 10th August 2012, 18:02

Originally Posted by Akzle

Jah. Anyone who approaches roadworks at a speed that a blunt edged sign and 1" box steel would "bacon slice" them, probably had it coming. Post pics of THAT.

you sir are a fuckwit.
I'm talking about signs that are there during the day for road works etc but at night instead of removing them they turn them 90 degrees so say on the open road the limit then is 100kmh. The likes that are set up for road marking etc or lineman working where after hours there is absolutely no reason to travel at less than the road speed

**dangerous** · 10th August 2012, 18:17

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Good idea. And while on the subject of road works signs and dangerous practices...
Leaving them on display when there is no reason (ie Men Working - when it is patently obvious that there is no-one there at midnight/whenever). That just leads to an overall contempt for all warning signs and a tendency to ignore them on approach - with the subsequent panic when the sign wasn't lying.

Ya know if you are a school bus driver and you have ya 'school' sign displayed and the bus is empty... you get ya arse kicked and fined, double standards...

and JW, re above post

**Akzle** · 10th August 2012, 18:17

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

you sir are a fuckwit...

never seen it. Generally when the road doesnt need to be limited, they move the cones/signage to the shoulder. Most of the roadworks up here is seal repairs.

Still. Getting hit by something in front of you is generally your fault.

**SMOKEU** · 10th August 2012, 18:18

Originally Posted by Akzle

Jah. Anyone who approaches roadworks at a speed that a blunt edged sign and 1" box steel would "bacon slice" them, probably had it coming. Post pics of THAT.

I can do you one better and show you a video of the aftermath of exactly that happening. It's good motivation to slow down.

**dangerous** · 10th August 2012, 18:19

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

I can do you one better and show you a video of the aftermath of exactly that happening. It's good motivation to slow down.

... waiting?

**SMOKEU** · 10th August 2012, 18:20

Originally Posted by dangerous

... waiting?

I'm not posting it on here as it's extremely disturbing to watch but you can PM me for the link if you really want to see it.

**jellywrestler** · 10th August 2012, 18:35

Originally Posted by Akzle

never seen it. Generally when the road doesnt need to be limited, they move the cones/signage to the shoulder. Most of the roadworks up here is seal repairs.

Still. Getting hit by something in front of you is generally your fault.

Have you actually ever ridden a motorcycle at night in the rain, certainally the visibility is nowhere what's available in a motorcar, I have, I've been riding for 34 years now, heading out in an hour for a 2.5 hour ride and i'd like every chance of having silly shit like this removed as there's enough shit out there to contend with

I notice you seem to use the word Generally, that to me means less than 100% doesn't it?
If there's a chance to reduce this problem to zilch then why not try and acheive that?

Here's another example you may only see generally.....http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...tice-be-warned

**MrKiwi** · 10th August 2012, 18:49

The practice raised by jellywrestler is no joke, and is a practice the NZTA also takes a very dim view of. It is not widespread, but when it happens it is a material threat because the signs create two potential hazards:
- turned sideways they are invisible but can can create a momentary flash of light from your vehicle lights when driving past. The flash is a hazard and can create a slight loss of vision for 10-20 seconds. Not good at open road speeds.
- whether or not they are invisible, if for some reason you happen to slide off your bike in the vicinity of the sign (yes I know the odds are small but stick with me) then the sign will slice you. If the road hit has not done you in the sign certainly will!

It's a hazard that is totally manageable and should never arise. The NZTA with proof of this happening will address it directly with the road contractor, and it is is repeated the contractor could stand to lose their contract.

**dangerous** · 10th August 2012, 19:11

Ya know... thing is I now live in the middle of know were, sure country road SFA traffic but alas no further than just up the road there is just what we talk about, bout a k of turned signs, its got me fucked as to why how and when, no sign of any kind of work but for a k every 50m a speed restricked sign para L with the road (yeah fark ya's I dont know how to spell that 'P' word) curasity has me intreaged but most of all I think like a biker and think WTF, I will head out tomorow just for the hell of it and take photos, unless they have disapaired as quick as they apaired...

anyone remember my thread on the barbed wire attached to the wire barriers north of kaikoura? a couple of posts and a complaint in the right direction had that sorted.

**FJRider** · 10th August 2012, 19:19

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Good idea. And while on the subject of road works signs and dangerous practices...
Leaving them on display when there is no reason (ie Men Working - when it is patently obvious that there is no-one there at midnight/whenever). That just leads to an overall contempt for all warning signs and a tendency to ignore them on approach - with the subsequent panic when the sign wasn't lying.

Just because there is no staff working on road works sites at the time ... does not mean NO hazard exists in that zone. And as temporary speed signs are often ignored ... at night/after hours/weekends/when nobodys around ... it leaves you open for all sorts of bother.

As does anybody traveling at night on a motorcycle in the rain ... in less than excellent visability ... at 100 km/hr ...

There is more risk of hitting a sheep/cattle beast/teenage punk in a black hoodie ... than hitting a road-works sign. If your lights aren't up to much ... slow down at night.

**Berries** · 10th August 2012, 19:23

Saw the OP this morning so had a read of COPTTM when I got to work thinking the practice would be discouraged in there but i couldn't find anything which surprised me. If you do see this then yes you can call MOTONZ if it makes you happy, or you could call your local NZTA office if it is state highway, local council if not, and ask to speak to whoever signs off the Traffic Management Plans. If it is a hazard they should sort it out.

Doesn't help if it is at night and one night only. If you are concerned about whoever might be following you then take the sign down.

Originally Posted by FJRider

Just because there is no staff working on road works sites at the time ... does not mean NO hazard exists in that zone. And as temporary speed signs are often ignored ... at night/after hours/weekends/when nobodys around ... it leaves you open for all sorts of bother.

Most temporary speed limits at road works sites are not set out correctly. Hate to say it but the workers get what they deserve in those cases.