On the few roads leading into the village in which I live, there are signs advising motorists to slow down. I support the posting of these signs, especially as the village has its fair share of children, not the least of whom are running in the red triangle just above the speed warning sign.
Yet, as I was walking past one of the signs over the weekend, I took a closer look at the graphics. Upon closer inspection, I was amazed at the illustrations of the hands on the steering wheel.
Does this sign only apply to one of Batman’s arch nemeses, The Penguin? Consider the hands of The Penguin, as played by Danny Devito in ‘Batman Returns’. Shocking similarity, I agree. Should I be concerned that the local authorities post signs asking The Penguin to slow down? Surely that criminal mastermind would deliberately flout the law and speed right through the village! What can be done!?
Well, if I were the Penguin, I’d be terrified of the local bobby writing me a ticket….would I dare flout such an officious looking sign?
Cheers,
Quirky Indian
http://quirkyindian.wordpress.com
@Quirky Indian
Really? Don’t you think the Penguin would just laugh? Ha-ha.
The more that I look at the graphics on the sign, the sillier I think they are.
The graphics seem more related to pay attention to steering that slow down. I think they should have thought this one out more. I am not sure how to make a graphic that show careful speed monitoring, or slowing down, but this is not it.
As to the Penguin, I suspect that if he were to be driving, he would be more a quirky swerving all over the road guy and not as much concerned with speed. I do not think he would even pull over at the request of the police.
@mark
I spent much of the waning hours of my evening considering how to visually represent ‘slowing down’. Hmmm … how to do that in a single graphic, easily and safely recognisable from the driver’s seat of a moving car?
While I don’t have a recommendation on the graphic, I do have another amusing speed related comment to make.
Recently, the Illinois Department of Transportation kicked off a campaign with the goal of slowing drivers on the highways, and especially in construction zones. As part of that campaign they introduced a “pledge” which drivers can voluntarily take, promising to drive more safely. The text of the pledge is as follows:
“By clicking this link, I certify that I am committed to keeping roads safe. I pledge to drive 45 in work zones and slow down to posted speed limits.”
It strikes me as a strange way to help curb crime. I wonder if they will ever try voluntary pledges to help prevent other criminal activities….”I pledge avoid dealing drugs”…or…”I pledge not to commit arson.”
(To see the actual pledge link, check out the box on right side of this page: http://www.nbc5.com/traffic/index.html)
@Conall – perhaps they should get children to start taking these pledges in school. What a novel way to attain a crime-free society!
Cheers,
Quirky Indian
http://quirkyindian.wordpress.com
@ Liam
I was thinking that the graphic should have been a speedometer with the speed showing as the posted limit. This would be a better relation than the steering wheel.
@ Mark
Well, that could work, I suppose. Sort of like a speed-limit reminder sign?
Your comment also raises a separate, but related issue:
Why do they put speed bumps in roads that are so big that it’s impossible to drive at the posted speed limit? What’s the point of a 30-mph speed limit when using speed bumps which require speeds of less than 20-mph to avoid damage to the car?