Different islands, different speed billboards?

[MotoGirl]

I recently arrived back in Tauranga after a trip around the South Island. Throughout my travels, I noticed some different speeding billboards to what I've seen in the North Island.

The one that appealed to me was a car speedo that had dollar amounts instead of actual speeds. Another one said something like "Speeding Ticket" and showed a pair of feet (representing a corpse) with a toe tag.

These signs may give us variety, but I'm more interested in why I haven't seen these in the North Island. Do different areas use their own set of speed billboards or was this a figment of my imagination?

Disclaimer: I personally haven't seen them and I'm in no way implying they don't exist, OK?

[canarlee]

i have seen some similar to what you describe here on the north island, although the majority of the traffic bill boards that i see tend towards drink driving and the perils of.

[yungatart]

The Napier City Council refuses to have "gory" traffic billboards up anywhere within the city boundaries, on the grounds that people eventually get desensitised to them, so we only have pretty tame ones here.
All good, IMHO!

[MotoGirl]

i have seen some similar to what you describe here on the north island, although the majority of the traffic bill boards that i see tend towards drink driving and the perils of.

Yup, I mainly see signs relating to fatigue and drink driving. I am interested to know if the signs are used nationally, or only in specific areas.

[MotoGirl]

The Napier City Council refuses to have "gory" traffic billboards up anywhere within the city boundaries, on the grounds that people eventually get desensitised to them...

I find it interesting that local authorities have power over what signs are erected in their district. If lowering the road toll is so important (as the government keeps bleeting about), you'd expect it to dictate what signs are going up.

[canarlee]

I find it interesting that local authorities have power over what signs are erected in their district. If lowering the road toll is so important (as the government keeps bleeting about), you'd expect it to dictate what signs are going up.

different areas = different problems = different signs? just a thought.


im not sure about people being desensitized is a good argument though (not saying this isnt true of what the council thinks in its wisdom), i think the main problem (for a lot of people) would be that gruesome signs attract attention and take the focus away from the road!

[Drum]

I find it interesting that local authorities have power over what signs are erected in their district.....

For State Highways Transit have the say so, for all other roads it is the local road controlling authority.

Transit and LTNZ (the old LTSA) come up with a range of signs and local cops/ road safety types determine what signs to put up and where.

Edit: I should add that the local authorities also come up with their own local signs, and sometimes even the cops come up with their owns signs.

[MotoGirl]

For State Highways Transit have the say so, for all other roads it is the local road controlling authority.

Transit and LTNZ (the old LTSA) come up with a range of signs and local cops/ road safety types determine what signs to put up and where.

Cheers for that. It all makes perfect sense when you actually think about it.

[MotoGirl]

im not sure about people being desensitized is a good argument though ...

I think having the crap scared out of you (via gruesome advertising campaigns) can be a good thing. Otherwise, we could continue to play ignorant and go on believing we're invincible. Sometimes we need a reminder that we're mere mortals.

[canarlee]

agreed, but what i typed after that is the argument, people rubber necking to see the gory stuff are taking their concentration away from the driving/riding therefore causing accidents. so no gory stuff but good, clear sign posts that people can see are better in my opinion.

i know i will pay more attention to a gory picture while driving than i will the road more often than not, wrong i know but that is what happens to many other people too.

[Skyryder]

Some of the most effective 'signs' are those that students do the 'emulate fatal accidents. I drove past one sometime ago it was only after I came backs the same way and everything was still the same that I realise it was a SADD setup. A few more of them at the appropiate time.................sort a makes you slow down.


Skyryder

[MotoGirl]

i know i will pay more attention to a gory picture while driving than i will the road more often than not, wrong i know but that is what happens to many other people too.

You raise a valid point there. I saw a couple of signs and I had to really stare at them to see what the picture was. The words were big and clear, but I couldn't really see the picture until I practically passed the sign. In this particular case, the sign may create more danger than it prevents accidents.

[MotoGirl]

Some of the most effective 'signs' are those that students do the 'emulate fatal accidents. I drove past one sometime ago it was only after I came backs the same way and everything was still the same that I realise it was a SADD setup. A few more of them at the appropiate time.................sort a makes you slow down.


Skyryder

I guess the road safety campaigners aren't that great at determining when is appropriate.

[swbarnett]

I think having the crap scared out of you (via gruesome advertising campaigns) can be a good thing.

The trouble is that most people will see the signs and think "that's not going to happen to me" or "that sign's aimed at someone else". The nett effect is that all the signs do is ruin the landscape. Although I have no evidence I don't think they have any affect on the road toll whatsoever.

[merv]

I find those billboard signs around Horowhenua cute - the Sam ones with a sheep - you know ones like Sleepy Sam, take a break and Hoofing it Sam, slow down etc or whatever they say.