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Irony 101
Posted May 21st 2008 10:19PM by Ben Greenman
More than a decade ago, the British Highways Agency erected signs along the A1 highway to warn drivers about the consequences of unsafe driving: the signs detailed how many motorists had been killed on that stretch of road. Now, though, the signs themselves have been designated road hazards, as authorities have determined that drivers are suffering from "information overload' and are at risk of crashing as they try to process the signs. There is now some debate over whether to replace the signs with signs that say "Slow Down," signs that display the speeds of passing motorists, or tiny signs that show how many drivers were injured or killed by the large signs.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Nice
Mokele Mbembe at 1:09PM on May 22nd 2008
2. I knew that everything was all you goddamned lefty liberal commie fascist's fault.
My eggs were boiled a little too hard this morning, you bastards.
not-pboyfloyd at 4:24PM on May 22nd 2008
3. It's the, "moth to flame effect."
It's the reason most police and other emergency vehicles are struck on the roadside while all of their emergency lights are flashing. It's the reason people driving across long streches of desert or prairie tend to leave the roadway and crash into the only tree or culvert for miles around.
Republicans are particularly vulnerable to this phenomenon. It is a form of hypnosis.
Captain Negative at 6:15PM on May 22nd 2008
4. This isn't Tolstoy doing road signs, but they could still edit them and keep the efficacy.
oneblood at 1:12PM on May 23rd 2008
5. Wow. I thought I'd page over to a nice, safe blog where nobody is losing their minds in some sort of half-crazed, partisan tirade and wouldn't you know the first thing I see is PBO & the Captain engaged in extraneous ranting. Somebody please remove all sharp objects from the room. These guys have had a little bit too much Jolt.
Dave at 1:00AM on May 25th 2008
6. Hey Dave - I feel the same way and it's usually the case with responses to anything, doesn't matter what the subject or news of the day is - no such thing as a nice, safe blog.... But some do make you laugh. In any case, I particularly enjoyed the captain's "moth to flame effect..." Would make an interesting short story and it's not far from the truth.
linda anthony at 10:08AM on May 25th 2008
7. Apology to linda.
The only "ranter" is, as usual, the "retentive" Dave. It's okay, Dave. I realize it's getting tougher to be a Bush-Cheney-loving, Christo-fascist these days.
Captain Negative at 11:35AM on May 25th 2008
8. wow! OBAMAS PRIVATE PORK BARREL Is BIG NEWS.
Bigger than Police being stuck on road side.
Go here LOOK www.1centx2.com
FREEMAN SIMS at 1:10PM on May 25th 2008
9. NEWS. OBAMAS PRIVATE PORK BARREL I KNEW HE WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. SE IT HERE
www.1centx2.com
FREEMAN SIMS at 1:15PM on May 25th 2008
10. Captain - You always elevate the level of the conversation, don't you? Your ability to name call is particularly impressive. And why so cranky? Your guy Obama looks like a shoo-in on the Democrat side. (Unless something goes wrong.)
Dave at 8:02PM on May 25th 2008
11. Dave, PBFloyd and I were making little jokes and you came along and had a hissy-fit.
Nothing new under the sun.
Captain Negative at 3:26AM on May 26th 2008
12. Well, this is a big fat "DUH!" here. Of course, if you have a billboard with TEENY-TINY print that you expect someone to read as they go past at high speeds, it is going to make the roads less safe while their attention is not focused on the road itself.
That is why in America, road signs are short, sweet and to the point, even the ones that are telling us whether there is a place to eat, lodgings, etc. on the road ahead of us somewhere.
Christopher at 5:52AM on May 26th 2008
13. Captain - Your sense of humor seems to be notably absent. And I'm not the one going into orbit.
Dave at 8:58AM on May 26th 2008
14. Anti Nuclear Anti Coal Anti Drilling for Oil Anti Shale Oil and Pro Whining about Gas Prices = Liberals.
Stop whining and propose solutions. BUSH SUX doesn't work anymore. Its been 17 Months since Dems won House and Senate with " Bush Sux.
Dennis D at 8:17PM on May 26th 2008
15. Just a little common sense can solve this problem. I mean by this that IF for instance, there are so many signs in an area that it resembles the Santa Monica Freeway, then yes, there are too many signs for the driver to process. However, it should also be noted that billboards and other advertisements should be removed before signs installed for the public's safety. Beyond that, perhaps making these 'statistical fact' signs a distinctive color like pink or power blue will serve as a visual cue to drivers that the sign is not giving them immediate driving instructions. The sign will still have an effect by implanting the imformation subliminally.
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 7:41AM on May 27th 2008