Electronic Overhead Road Signs

[Falcon_Crazy]

These big electronic signs are popping up all over the place. I find them useful when there is an "incident" (Crash, fog, traffic stopped ahead), they have flashing orange lights and the message flashes to get your attention BUT

The RTA rarely has static messages on them - any message always seems to flash and I reckon this is distracting.

On the F3 north of Sydney, traffic slows under the first one when it flashes, then speeds up once past it..fair dinkum, when it is off or just a static message, traffic flies on through at 120km/h.

I spoke to RTA about it and they were not interested but i reckon if it is not an 'incident' then the messages signs should be off or a simple static message so as not to distract drivers...

Thoughts? Does this happen in other states? Is it just me?

[Yellow_Festiva]

My only issue with these signs is they take too long to rotate a multiple screen message.

By the time you see it at 80m away doing 110, you only get half the message as it hangs on each screen for 7-8 seconds to display 3 words...

[HLC]

nah you are right. happens everywhere in sydney. where there are flashing signs traffic always stamps on the brakes to read it. then speeds off. more of a hazard than something that is good for the road networks.

[Keepleft]

RTA use the VM signs to advise vis:-

* KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING
* FOG LIGHTS OFF IN CLEAR CONDITIONS (and a similar other)
* WIPE 10KM/H OFF IN WET (and similar again).

I don't support general driving messages except per above. The F3 VMS units DO NOT have laser based (or other) fog sensors unlike the F6 VMS. RTA's TMC rely on phone messages and RTA traffic patrol to advise of conditions.

RTA Illawarra (F6) were in the bad habit in heavy fog of advising drivers to use the right lane. Apparently they felt the left lane AND emergency shoulder would be used by stopped vehicles.

Had a stop put to that practice.

The same office use to flash; - "IN FOG SLOW DOWN - HAZARD LIGHTS MAY BE USED - ON MOVING VEHICLES", this will change in the future, or may already apply vis;-

"IN FOG SLOW DOWN - REAR FOG LAMPS OR HAZARD LIGHTS MAY BE USED ON MOVING VEHICLES", the primary defence in heavy fog is the rear fog, not hazards.

They were in the habit of advising a speed of 70km/h in heavy fog. No legal basis for it AND I point out the danger in doing so, I reminded them Germany mandates 50km/h maximum in heavy fog on freeway.

Not paid full attention a few months to this.

[Paxton]

My Favorite ones are on the F6.

"Legal Speed 110"

(With an arrow that points to the offending car).

KeepLeft - where are the "Laser" Fog sensors on the F6? I haven't noticed them, and I drive the F6 frequently.

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by Paxton

My Favorite ones are on the F6.

"Legal Speed 110"

(With an arrow that points to the offending car).

KeepLeft - where are the "Laser" Fog sensors on the F6? I haven't noticed them, and I drive the F6 frequently.

Bulli for one, they are a seperate install to the sign, away from them. A more automated system.


Per "LEGAL SPEED 110KM/H" RTA use to show the actual speed, but of course folk would then try and get the highest speed.

[holmsy]

there has been one installed in geelong not so long ago. but the only time iv ever seen anything on it was a test message and when the whole thing was lit up for no reason.
i just assumed they decided to waste some more money yet again.

[Allen]

Why can't they do this here? :P
(Mods remove if deemed inappropiate)

[Falchoon]

I don't mind the signs if the info is about road conditions/closures or other relevant matters but it seems to be a trend lately that some shops hire these signs to advertise their sales. This should be banned IMO.

[LUXO_8]

Originally Posted by holmsy

there has been one installed in geelong not so long ago. but the only time iv ever seen anything on it was a test message and when the whole thing was lit up for no reason.
i just assumed they decided to waste some more money yet again.

i believe this has been installed in preparation for the geelong ring road.....

it does display messages when there are incidents on the freeway, EG it displayed the Tunnel Closed warning when the crash in the tunnel occurred.

[au2sw]

we have a few popping up in Qld. i think theyre great for the purpose of incidents/accidents ahead. when the road is good they either show "report traffic incidents" with the phone number or they are off. doesnt seem to be too much problem so far, but the ones on the sunny coast are fairly new, so time will tell.

[ltd]

Originally Posted by fairlane_ghia

Why can't they do this here? :P
(Mods remove if deemed inappropiate)

He he he he.

We had one of those portable ones on Windsor Rd in the run up to the elections in March; it read "Steve Pringle for Windsor". Steve Pringle was the local independant member - I guess he wasn't well liked for Windsor Rd. Anyway, somebody then hacked into it and made it read; "Steve Pringle can suck my Dingle". Made the newspapers and 6pm news. Steve Pringle was non plussed by the situation, actually he was quite upset.

[Miller]

Originally Posted by ltd

"Steve Pringle can suck my Dingle". Made the newspapers and 6pm news.

I remember seeing that sign at Vinegar hill

[merlin]

I think their good, dont like it when they flash though unless there is actually an acco ahead. Noticed they were starting to pop up at freeway entrances so you can make a decision not to get on if there is an acco ahead. Not so much now, maybe the toll operators complained...

[new2ford]

One on the Pacific Highway Wahroonga just before the F3 would be good. Nothing worse than the turn right off the highway thinking "whoopee a bit of speed finally" only to run into that ubiqitous tailback carpark!