We at Label Source would like to applaud the American city of Hayward, California, who have taken a rather novel approach to road safety. One can only assume that Hayward's residents weren't paying enough attention to the usual traffic signs, because one main road is now dotted with a slightly more unusual breed of signage:
"35 - It's a speed limit, not a suggestion!"
Downhill - Use: Eyes, Brakes, Brain"
Frank Holland, speaking on behalf of the city, said: "The idea is for people to do a double take and then realize, 'Oh, they want me to be careful on the hill. Standard traffic signs often become white noise...we wanted to use humour to get people to take a second look and think."
It's a great idea, and Hayward's attention-grabbing ploy seems to have worked - not only are residents paying more attention to the signs, the signs have actually made international news!
And motorists aren't the only targets of these humorous signs. They've got one for pedestrians, too:
The British public (sometimes justifiably) have very little patience for health and safety measures, and we think it would be fantastic if local councils took a leaf from Hayward's book and started using a bit of humour - it is a great way to capture people's attention and ensure that hazards don't go ignored.
It's important, though, to note that Hayward's rib-tickling signs aren't enough on their own; one local resident admitted that the signs were "cool", but added that "it's hard to see the speed limit". Hayward haven't replaced their standard road safety signs with the ones in these photos; they've just supplemented them with something fun and light-hearted. Both are important!
Photos: Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group
Amendments to the Safety at Street Works Act became effective on the 1st October 2014, and introduced some changes to the traffic sign and barrier layouts on works or excavations on roadways, pavements and verges.
For carriageways with speed limits of 50mph or more, it is a requirement to provide extra warning signs with distance indicators counting down on the approach to the works.
Extra warning signs should be used if advanced visibility of the works is obscured, such as beyond a bend, over the brow of a hill, in a dip in the road, or where there may be overhanging trees or other natural obstructions to vision.
Site information signs are becoming compulsory on most sites, but recommended for all sites. These signs are 600mm high by 450mm wide and can be attached by bungee straps to barriers (between top and bottom panels), without covering the reflective panels of the barrier. These reflective panels can include company name and logo, contact details, information on the works, and white panels for adding permit numbers.
Large format priority signs can be used to emphasise give way or priority when 2-way traffic is not possible, especially where works is greater than 80 metres in length, or where the traffic flow is greater than 42 vehicle over a three minute span.
All these measures form part of an effort to prevent accidents and injuries to the workforce or vehicle users, where road or mobile works are taking place.
All of our road safety signs comply with the new amendments of the Safety at Street Works Act. Ensure that your order the correct signs with the correct sizing from our wide range today!
