September 26th, 2008 Administrator
The speed camera sign is instantly recognisable but the “no stopping” sign isn’t. As a review of British road signs is launched, what makes some good and others bad?
Many road signs are bizarre when thought about logically. Just what is one meant to do if there is a danger of falling rocks?
And if the road is slippery, will your car tyres really cross like the alarming skid marks seen on the sign?
But even if some symbols do not stand up to scrutiny, they convey a message that is quickly recognised.
Or at least, that’s the hope. Out of 500 drivers surveyed last year, none was able to correctly identify 12 road signs and only one sign – the speed camera – was known to them all.
A review of signs has been launched by the Department for Transport, looking at ways to reduce street clutter and introduce more technology. So what makes a good sign?
CLARITY
“The most important thing is that it works,” says Michael Wolff, chairmen of The Sign Design Society.
The current road sign system in the UK was the brainchild of Jock Kinnear and Margaret Calvert and has changed very little since it was introduced in 1965. It is one of the international icons of sign design, according to Mr Wolff.
“The design of a sign must be got down to the simplest possible level,” he says.
“The fundamental words in sign design are clarity, consistency and simplicity.”
Not only do modern drivers travel faster than before, they are also listening to the radio, chatting on their hands-free phone and trying to subdue rowdy children in the back. Distractions are everywhere.
With so much competition for a driver’s attention, a good sign has its work cut out. It must be clear and simple so that it can be seen, read and understood in an instant.
The red no-entry sign is one that, even without words or pictures, conveys its message.
But others don’t. Many drivers are unable to recognise the “no stopping” sign.
And former police driving instructor Chris Walker says the “give way to oncoming traffic” sign is hotly debated at driving school because it is illogical and takes too long to work out.
SYMBOLISM
A 19th Century-style bellows camera is used, with great success, to warn of the imminent danger of racking up a speeding fine and rail enthusiasts’ hearts must race at the symbol of a steam train before level crossings.
“Symbols don’t have to be accurate, they are there to convey an idea and be understood,” Mr Wolff says.
Some widely used signs have attracted criticism for being outdated. The image of stooped elderly people crossing a road has been branded as “insulting” by Help the Aged. It originates from a children’s competition in 1981.
“Signs must be nationally recognised and clear for international visitors,” says Paul Watters, head of roads policy at the AA, as there can be over one million foreign cars on the UK’s roads at any one time.
COLOUR AND SHAPE
Different colours provoke very different reactions in the human mind, says Dr David Cowell, who specialises in the psychology of colour.
The brain is very sensitive to the level of energy in the light that passes through your eyes, with different colours of light carrying different amounts of energy.
“Blue [the colour of motorway signage] suggests harmony and relaxation,” says Dr Cowell. “It is the colour of nature in relaxed form. It encourages social communication and consideration of others.”
Orange and yellow “suggest a positive future”, he says, the point being that the colour of signs surrounding roadworks is clearly meant to encourage frustrated drivers to think beyond the current delays.
Different shaped signs also create different psychological reactions, suggests Dr Cowell.
“A triangular sign has points and represents danger,” which is why the shape is used for warning signs.
“Rectangular signs are the same shape as a book and therefore give information. Round signs are instructional. They look like the end of a pointing finger giving you an instruction.”
UNCLUTTERED
While the fundamental design of the country’s road signs has remained unchanged for almost half a century, the number of signs seems to multiplying.
Today British roads can seem crammed with symbols warning drivers of every foreseeable danger, from falling rocks to passing deer. As well as fuelling fears the streetscape is being damaged, the proliferation of signs reduces their effectiveness.
“Drivers now face a system overload,” says Mr Walker. “Signs are duplicated, in some cases triplicated, leaving little time for the information to be seen and processed.”
Even the most well-designed road sign will be of little use if nobody can make it out.
From : BBC website
Posted in Driving, Driving Lessons, Road Safety | 1 Comment »
September 26th, 2008 Administrator
The number of children under 12 injured in car accidents in Great Britain fell by more than 1,000 in the first full year since the introduction of the new car seat law, according to figures released today.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents welcomed the news as proof that the legislation was working and helping to reduce pain and suffering for children and their families.
New legislation was introduced in September 2006 making it compulsory for children under 12 and below 4ft 5in (1.35m) tall to use child car seats or booster seats.
In 2005, the last year before the law came in 7,033, children under 12 were injured while passengers in cars, and 326 of them were killed or seriously injured. Last year the number hurt had fallen to 5,927, with 271 killed or seriously injured.
Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, said: “This is more good news following the announcement in the summer that road deaths in Britain were down to 2,946 – the first time they have fallen below 3,000 since records began 80 years ago.
“It shows that child car seats work and when children are using the correct restraint for their size they have a better chance of surviving an accident.
“The latest report from the Department for Transport also shows that the provisional figure for drink-drive deaths is down from 560 in 2006 to 460 last year. But we would see even more improvement if the drink-drive limit was reduced.
“We must not be complacent. The report underlines that driver error is still the major problem where road accidents are concerned. Four of the five most frequently reported contributory factors involved driver error or reaction, with failing to look properly, the most frequently reported contributory factor, being recorded in 35 per cent of accidents. Loss of control was involved in a third of fatal accidents.
“More emphasis still needs to be given to work-related road safety. Eighteen per cent of accidents where the purpose of the journey was known involved someone being at work at the time – but the real figure could well be much higher as the journey purpose was not known in 72 per cent of crashes. Many employers still need to do more to manage occupational road risk and make it part of their mainstream health and safety policies.”
From : RoSPA website
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September 26th, 2008 Administrator
Ambitiously-named “super fuels” fail to help motorists’ finances or improve green issues, a British consumer group has claimed.
Which? Car magazine said these fuels do not save drivers money, enhance a car’s performance or do anything to aid the environment.
The magazine’s editor, Richard Headland, said many drivers would be “wasting their money” by paying over the odds for these types of fuel.
Which? Car tested Shell V-Power, Tesco Super Unleaded and BP Ultimate Diesel against standard fuels.
It found Shell V-Power gave a Ford Focus 1.6 a marginal power increase. However, filling the car on this petrol for 12,000 miles will cost £115 more than using Shell’s standard petrol. Tesco Super Unleaded was found to actually decrease the power of the Focus.
The Volkswagen Golf’s hi-tech 1.4 TSI engine responded well to Shell V-Power, but there was little to choose between super fuels and ordinary petrol on economy and emissions.
The economy and performance of the Renault Megane 1.5 diesel were both slightly worse using BP Ultimate diesel, the super fuel furthest from the marketing claims in the test.
And each super fuel had only a marginal effect on the emissions of measured pollutants, seemingly putting paid to environmental claims, the magazine concluded.
From : RAC website
Which? Car website
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September 26th, 2008 Administrator
All cars will have to be fitted with automatic headlights under plans announced by the European Union.
The European Commission has resurrected plans for “daytime running lights”, despite fierce opposition from car manufacturers.
Under the plans, which were announced by Günter Verheugen, vice president of the European Commission, all new cars will have to be fitted with this equipment in three years.
It is, however, subject to the approval of both European ministers and the European parliament.
“The introduction of Daytime Running Light for cars, trucks and buses makes them more visible, which will increase road safety. This will make a positive contribution to our goal of reducing fatalities on European roads whilst being more fuel efficient then existing lights,” said Mr Verheugen.
But car manufacturers raised concern about the proposals. “There are mixed opinions on this,” said a spokesman for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. “There is a small risk that some drivers will forget to switch on their headlights at night.
“We think there could also be confusion among road users between these lights and front fog lamps.
“Even though we accept this is supposed to be a safety measure, it could also add to carbon emissions exactly when car makers are under pressure from Brussels to cut them.”
Concern was also voiced by Tim Kirkhope, a Tory Euro-MP and former Home Office minister.
“When the commission first mooted compulsory daytime running lights, MEPs were inundated with letters from cyclists concerned that daytime lights would make it more difficult for them to be seen. If all cars have lights on, there is a concern that drivers start looking out for lights, rather than pedestrians or cyclists.
“At a time when we are pushing for reductions in the use of fuel and resultant emissions, we must be certain we are not causing extra carbon emissions without an additional benefit.
“The commission must prove independently that the benefits will outweigh the potential safety and environmental pitfalls. We remain sceptical about the need for EU-wide action, when different parts of Europe receive considerably varying levels of natural light.”
But the proposals were backed by Robert Gifford, Executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety.
“In the context of a further round of casualty reduction beyond 2010 and of the need for Europe to cut the toll of deaths on its roads, the government should consider this proposal seriously rather than rule it out of court.”
From : Telegraph website
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September 18th, 2008 Administrator
Joseph, from Potton, passed his driving test in Bedford today.
This was Joe’s first attempt at taking his driving test. He started learning to drive in Bedford with Txt-Drive in July having had no previous experience. Joe was recommend to learn to drive with Txt-Drive following a personal recommendation from his school friend George (George also passed his driving test at the first attempt after learning to drive with Txt-Drive). Joe spent just £824 on driving lessons, which is well BELOW the national average of £1400 to learn to drive.
Joe completed the emergency stop, the left reverse and also the reverse bay park. Thoughout the 40 minute driving test, Joe only received 2 minor faults for his driving!!
When asked for a reference to put on the Txt-Drive website Joe said :
“My driving lessons were very enjoyable and I felt very relaxed during my lessons. Chris is a very good instructor and I only got 2 minors. Thanks mate…….How many minors did George get?”
George also passed his driving test in Bedford on the first attempt and got just 5 minors!
To book driving lessons in Bedford, or the surrounding areas, please call Txt-Drive on : (FREEPHONE) 0800 8600 983.
You may also text DRIVE to 80039 (charged at your standard text rate) & we will call you back shortly.
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