simonb Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 These motorway variable message gantry signs - anyone else think they're irrelevant at times? Last week there was a truck show on at Haydock Park, Friday to Sunday, and all week were 'Haydock Park Event, Long Delays' showing - even as far up as Lancaster! Then today, get this, M6 near Preston, 'M25 Closed J9-16'. Talk about early warnings!! It's about 200 miles away!! Seems a waste when they could be saying 'Oy numpty, get out of the freaking 3rd lane, you're only doing 50!' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_d Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 Let me guess, someone has been reading Sniff Petrol? Yeah, I do completely agree. I got stuck on the Msomething and about 300m PAST the broken down vehicle was a matrix sign saying "vehicle broken down lane 3", I had driven past numerous signs before that and they were all off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 The ones in use around Jct 25 to 40 on the M1 are utter rubbish. They often, or should that be always post messages that are either blinking obvious, or completely wrong. Queue! No sh!t. I'm sat in it. Debris in Road! No, there's sod all there, and you've been telling me this for 9 miles. Watch your speed Oooops. Slow! Gritting in Progress! Where?! It's August FFS! Just some of the usual crap I see from these Matrix signs. Waste of time. Ok, rant over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabGirl Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 10 mph on the M42 at 2am. The road was fookin empty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 [ QUOTE ] 10 mph on the M42 at 2am. The road was fookin empty. [/ QUOTE ] CG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rothwell Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 I really hate those "Caution Queue" signs.. Or those ones that flash 40mph when it is 1am and no cars about and no roadworks... What is that all about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 My (least) favourite was the one that earned me a TG letter of the month. It was during the fireman's strike a couple of years ago. It read: "FIREFIGHTERS STRIKE. DRIVE WITH EXTRA CARE" I wrote in to ask whether anyone had been there after the strike was over to see if it read: "STRIKE OVER. DRIVE LIKE IDIOTS AGAIN" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khutula Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 I've seen the M25 warnings on the M56 near Manchester before. You can read what the warning signs are displaying on this website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A4_Family_Man Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 Absolutely far too many pointless messages - THINK DON'T DRINK etc. Saw one about taking care when overtaking. I wonder if the cabling along the motorways being installed will improve the messaging system to give accurate up to date info. On the same line - the M25 variable gatsos can give odd speed limits: One at 40/ next 60/ back to 40/ then 50 etc . Seen this at very quiet times - middle of the night. No roadworks etc in sight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snail Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 I keep getting notifications of queues on the M25, while driving down the M27!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atomic Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 I hate the 'Check your fuel' ones the most. What am I supposed to do get out and open the flap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 The drink driving ones I feel are a bit pointless - I mean I'm tanked up and tryign desperately to make it look like I've not had a drink - last think I'm goign to do is worry what the sign is saying. Caution workforce in road - 1930pm on a friday - I don't think so, theyre all in the pub at that time on a friday. I do think some interactive signage would be good - "Oi R333TLE - you are driving a girls car, please pull off the motorway" or somethign like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I do think some interactive signage would be good - "Oi R333TLE - you are driving a girls car, please pull off the motorway" or somethign like that. [/ QUOTE ] "You - in the Rover - move over. Now. Yes, you." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lottiefox Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 Most of them are useless or out of date. I like "Spray - Slow Down". That seems to work very well. "Fog - Slow Down" is another good one that you often can't see if it really is foggy. On the M6 and M5 they have a current passion for telling you how long to a specific junction - why??? Just makes me want to beat it. The ones that warn in advance can be useful though.I remember one hot day when I had the A4 cab coming back from Croydon. All along the M25 it said M40 northbound closed. Nah thinks I, will be out of date. It will be fine. 7 hours later I was still sitting by Amersham on the very closed M40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazdot Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] On the M6 and M5 they have a current passion for telling you how long to a specific junction - why??? Just makes me want to beat it. [/ QUOTE ] Me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collease Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 I must admit that i liked the signs warning of fog on the M25 when there was none to be seen for miles and it was clear blue sky. top work people top work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted September 30, 2006 Report Share Posted September 30, 2006 [ QUOTE ] These motorway variable message gantry signs - anyone else think they're irrelevant at times? M6 near Preston, 'M25 Closed J9-16'. Talk about early warnings!! It's about 200 miles away!! Seems a waste when they could be saying 'Oy numpty, get out of the freaking 3rd lane, you're only doing 50!' [/ QUOTE ] Funny you should mention this, for I was planning on taking the A1 home from Windsor last Wednesday but it was an M25 gantry around the M40 that reminded me A1(M) Jct 10 was closed [for resurfacing]. Took the M1 instead. Quite helpful despite the 60-odd mile warning. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs32 Posted September 30, 2006 Report Share Posted September 30, 2006 [ QUOTE ] On the same line - the M25 variable gatsos can give odd speed limits: One at 40/ next 60/ back to 40/ then 50 etc . Seen this at very quiet times - middle of the night. No roadworks etc in sight! [/ QUOTE ] nothing to do with raising cash through cameras of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5to1 Posted September 30, 2006 Report Share Posted September 30, 2006 I read somewhere that the M25 speed camera's are activated when a variable speed limit is in effect (or something along these lines). And perhaps this could explain the erratic and sometimes unexplainable usage of the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 [ QUOTE ] And perhaps this could explain the erratic and sometimes unexplainable usage of the system. [/ QUOTE ] Particularly near the end of the budgetary year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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