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CHICAGO A large red octagonal sign reading “STOP” may seem an unambiguous road instruction. But so concerned was the mayor of the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn about motorists not stopping at junctions that he customised his own signs.
“I thought it might make people smile and take notice,” Dave Heilmann said after he had 50 humorous signs put up. “You’ve got people on their cell phones, their BlackBerries and iPods while driving.
Those are all distractions. Hopefully, when they see a sign they’re not expecting it might make them stop.”
The town council’s website is seeking suggestions for future signs. Slogans on those already in place include: “STOP . . . right there pilgrim” and “STOP . . . really, you gotta stop”. It is too soon to say whether the scheme will work. At the unveiling ceremony a motorist was seen to ignore a stop sign directly behind Mr Heilmann.
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In the UK we're so tied up with rules and regs that if it were done here no doubt someone would say that it stopped enforcement of the sign - just a sign of the times! (sorry couldn't resist it...)
Peter Bird, Andover, Hants
traffic cop says to motorist, you didnt stop at the line, replyies, yes, but i slowed down. You didnt stop. But i slowed down. This gets repeated a few more times. Then cop gets out trunchoen, and starts to repeatadly hit the motorist, now tell me, what do you want me to do. Slowdown or stop.
STEVE O, luton, england
Great idea! It reminds me of an inflight-supervisor of Virgin Atlantic who upon arrival at LAX instead of the usual stern admonishment to say in the seat until the seat-belt sign was switched off, said: "We need volunteers to stay behind and help us clean the toilets. You can indicated your participation by standing up BEFORE the captain has turned off the FASTEN SEAT BELTS signs"..... NOT ONE PERSON GOT UP until the sign was switched off. Often a little humor has a better effect than threats, arrests, etc.
Peter, London,
I think it's a great idea, and the signs can be made of quite cheap material because you really don't want them to stay in place too long, do you. IIn order to stay effective you have to change them a lot so people will want to read them, although of course there's the chance they might like them so much they start laughing, drive right through, and crash into somebody. But it is a great idea.
I wonder if somebody will start hiring gag writers for these if the idea takes off. Older readers can remember the Burma Shave signs.
Christopher Hobe Morrison, Pine Bush, Ulster County, NY, USA
To Linda- if the cost of an extra sign or two can reduce the number of accidents then it will be saving your tax dollars in the long run. There will be fewer rescue teams going to accidents and fewer police officers working those accidents.
Alicia, Powhatan, VA, USA
It's a good idea!!!!
Mélie, Montpellier, France
if it saves your life lady, who cares how much it costs!
tess, tokyo,
I don't really want my tax dollars spent this way. How much does one sign cost, I wonder......
Linda, Dillsburg,