Safe Speed Forums

Largish Australian-type signs have recently appeared on the A34 through Newcastle-under Lyme, promoting motorcycle awareness. See the following.

Mega link

So - the debate is open to you... is this a laudable attempt at promoting road safety....or another sticking-plaster approach?

ps the speed limit is 40mph in the place I've seen one of the signs

with the start of the biker season, riders a bit rusty, what may be classed as an over zealous awareness campaign, 2 points however

1. too many signs impact is lost
2. to few signs impact is not achieved

a fine line


IMO better for saturation of awareness signs rather than roadside memorials,

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now retired

Yes, Smudger - I've seen similar signs near my place, at a spot where some bikers were smashed in and killed.

I think it is effective to leave little bunches of flowers by the road near each crash. That way, some humanity is shown, and an emotional link is made from the crash site to the passing drivers, rather like a war cemetary.

Perhaps one should think of the transient nature of life, our loved ones, and the way we are all linked by the things we do. It might make us drive more calmly, moderately and with forgiveness for those who don’t know any better.

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I stole this .sig

I live right near the infamous A339, A32 and A272 routes, these are quite possibly the best biking roads in the south of England, I am lucky that I can ride them whenever i want.

The downside of having such magnificent roads is that they attract riders from all over, people come from as far afield as the midlands to experience them brought here by the endless articles in the press (we have kept quiet about the other great roads round here as we have learnt our lesson).

The A339 claimed 15 bikers in 2003, the causes reflected national percentages with a mix of single vehicle and multi vehicle, where multi it was almost always the other vehicle at fault.

In 2004 we had big yellow signs installed with such catchy slogans as "biker beware" and "kneedown? To die for?" That year there was a police presence as well but very little speed cameras as there are no permanants (absolutely no power source any where along the road- not a single street light) and very few places for a mobile van to stop.

in 2004 there was one death

The local council was inundated with complaint by "environmentalists" about the unwelcome visual impact of the signs, they were removed against the wishes of the police.

In 2005 we lost 7 bikers on this stretch of road, already this year we have seen 2 that I am aware of.

The signs work, they give information to bikers and drivers alike. Maybe we could see a little less in your face and I have considered suggesting a standard warning triangle displaying a motorcycle as an alternative.

I am all for them

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Former Military Police Officer and accident investigator

Thanks for the comments.

Interesting about the floral tributes. Some people think they are maudlin and a sign of post-Diana frenzy, but whenever I see them I actually stop and wonder what was the accident, was caused it.....and what caused it IN THAT PARTICULAR SPOT. Agreed, they do heighten awareness.

Hi, new to the forum, although I've been a regular visitor to the site for a year or more now..

Anyway, 1 thing I find with camera's, signs, flowers etc.. is that whilst people are looking at those, they're not lookin' forward, in their mirrors or checking their blind spots..

Just mo.. but maybe if people drove everyday like they did their first, ie correctly, then there'd be less accidents.

I'm not perfect, and on my bike I'm a real swine tbh, I speed at most times of the day, although rarely in most 30mph zones due to being knocked off many years ago by kids as a joke :S (thought it'd be funny to push a cycle out infront of me whilst I was passing stationary traffic).. I undertake and filter, but I do this at risk to myself and when I consider it safe to do so. I'm unlikely to hurt anyone else doing this on my motorcycle and I reserve performance / braking / avoidance measures for if needed.

I drive a coach for a living, which I drive VERY sensibly, speed limits obeyed, following gaps observed, lane discipline etc..


Anyway, long winded, but signs not req'd, not convinced they work and if someone doesn't know there's motorbikes on the road, I don't want them reading a sign whilst I'm overtaking them and don't want them braking to read it whilst I'm closing behind them.