Speed signs reduce you to a smile

Monday 29 October 2007

There really is something to smile about now it has been revealed that the new smiley faces road signs are helping to reduce the number of speeding vehicles in the area.

To date, 90 Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) have been installed and tests at 54 of the sites have shown the number of people exceeding the speed limit has fallen dramatically by 53%.

There has also been an average reduction of 2.5mph at these sites - with one location experienced a 14mph drop.

And once the council has finished its £800,000 installation project, there will be 226 smiley signs at key sites across South Lanarkshire, mainly at the entrance to residential areas - making the council the first local roads authority to introduce such a blanket approach.

Councillor Michael McCann, the depute leader of South Lanarkshire Council, said: "When you consider that a 1mph drop in speed equates to a 5% reduction in accidents, then it's clear that these signs are already having a positive impact on road safety.

"The feedback I've been receiving from people has been extremely positive and it seems children are desperate to see the smiley face and this encourages whoever is driving the car to slow down.

"It's an innovative project and already we are seeing the benefits, which will be even greater once all the signs are installed."

The signs are solar-powered and permanently show the legend 'Your Speed' and below this the detected vehicle speed is displayed. When an approaching vehicle is at or below the speed limit the smiley face is displayed but when a driver is breaking the speed limit the signs will display a 'sad face'.