What's the point of 1-metre long yellow lines?

[chymaera]

if you download the pdf on the link i posted above entitled - road markings - it seems very detailed to me. are you a solicitor or what?

I am not a solicitor, but several thousand people in Devon recently had speeding fines refunded because the signage was not to the correct specification. (It only took one lorry driver who challenged his speeding ticket).

 

[the_ferry_man]

clearly you are not a solicitor – wtf has speeding signage got to do with parking signage?

 

[chymaera]

clearly you are not a solicitor – wtf has speeding signage got to do with parking signage?

If the parking markings and signage do not comply with the the legal specifications if you challenge a parking offence in court you will get off. (Thousands of people do every year since councils got very lax with markings and signage.)

 

[cybertect]

If you are unable to properly observe signage, you shouldn't be driving. To fail to observe signage is de facto driving without due care and attention.

One of the things I do for my living is to design human interfaces, so I have some experience in dealing with the ways that people deal with information and signs (in the broader sense).

The CPZ sign is a complex, compound sign delivering many pieces of information to a driver while his vehicle is in motion.

It is a different beast to most others that serve this function - the language of signs giving Warning and Orders developed by the Warboys report in 1963 were admirably simple and direct.

A sample CPZ sign from Haringey contains five elements to assimilate: the name of the area, a code presumably for residents' parking, the label of a Controlled zone, the No Waiting icon and, finally, the hours of operation.

These from Richmond and Islington's web sites (they chose these as exemplars for the public!) have a small essay to take in.

You not only have to observe and understand the times when the CPZ in operations, but additionally interpret them based on what day of the week and time it is. Islington's have the added benefit that the information displayed on the sign itself changes regularly, depending on whether Arsenal are playing at home or not. You have to read and interpret it separately every time you pass.

A trained individual, such as a pilot, can take in about eight or nine messages simultaneously. Mere mortals, such as most car drivers, will be hard pressed to take in more than about five messages.

There will likely be many other road signs around that also require attention. CPZs may be accompanied by 20 mph zones, traffic calming measures, bicycle route directions and a plethora of others signage. Competing for your attention are also your speedometer and ordinary hazard awareness and anticipation.

There has been much discussion about information overload in road research circles. Authorities in Wales, Kent and elsewhere have been going about decluttering their roadsides.

In amongst all of this, you may observe the sign, and that some kind of No Waiting restriction applies, and even (with some mental effort) take in when the restrictions apply.

However, short term memory extends from two up to about twenty seconds in most circumstances, thirty at the outside. After that, the memory must be rehearsed, usually by repetition of some sort, so that it may be retained, used and acted upon.

It may not be a coincidence that under the 1964 Regulations, things like parking times were placed on plates at the roadside - informative at the point of use, but not distracting to people driving by.

 

[cybertect]

BTW, I suppose things could be a lot worse.

I snapped this sign while on holiday in Malta. I had seen two cars go to turn into the road and stop for the best part of thirty seconds while the drivers attempted to decode whether they were permitted to enter or not.

 

[detective-boy]

and you are?

It would appear not.

As is, in fact, the case with most things legal. (He does, however, know a senior police officer ...)

 

[detective-boy]

clearly you are not a solicitor – wtf has speeding signage got to do with parking signage?

Ah, but that sort of subtle change of tack is SO solicitory he might as well be.

This is classic chymera - he starts off making a simple, definitive statement:

If there in not an explanatory notice on a pole explaining the enforcement times they are not legal.

which is actually bollocks.

He is then told it is bollocks but, instead of accepting that, he subtly changes the point - in this case to:

It may have escaped your attention but many thousands of people are getting off of various motoring offences because councils are slapping down road marking and putting up roadsigns that do not comply with the legal requirements.

to something which is actually true.

He then ignores the fact that he was initially totally wrong and claims that anyone arguing with his amended point is absuing and bullying him.

It is pathetic. It is tiresome. And, in that some people may read his initial, apparently authoritative (but entirely incorrect) statement of the law and not realise he's a bullshitter and this may take it as accurate, he is dangerous.

If you do not KNOW what the law is do NOT make authoratative statements about it. Either don't bother posting or do like most normal people do - add qualifiers like "I think ..." or "I seem to remember ..." or pose a question. chymera, that means you.

DISCLAIMER: This is not bullying. This is a Walter Mitty twat being called on his damaging, bullshitting ways.

 

[the_ferry_man]

DISCLAIMER: This is not bullying. This is a Walter Mitty twat being called on his damaging, bullshitting ways.

thanks for explaining his/her's history.