How often do you find yourself stuck in a traffic jam, sitting tapping your fingers next to a sign with a super high speed limit? The sign seems to be mocking you with its "don't go above 50 - oh you can't, can you?" attitude.
In a civilised world such signs should have a sense of decency. If the average speed of traffic going past is less than 20 they should bow their heads like wilting sunflowers. If the average speed declines still more, they should bend down further until their message is utterly obscured.
Once the traffic picks up speed again, they will perk up and raise their heads, giving out their message to traffic that actually has a choice over whether to obey it. And hopefully people will be grateful and keep their speed legal.-- kropotkin, Nov 24 2003 using push button animal technology, but how thats the question.. http://www.wooden.co.uk/picFrame/299.html [po, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004] There are already reactive speed signs which change under certain situations e.g. a traffic jam. The closer you get to the tailback, the slower they tell you to go and once you're in the jam it reads 50 or 40 (kmph). I don't think they're ashamed though, although the outer circle *is* red.-- squeak, Nov 24 2003 This would be great if they also became outraged at cars breaking the speed limit...
<shaking fist at cars speeding past> "SLOW DOWN... THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD!"-- luecke, Nov 24 2003 Speed limits already have red cheeks.-- DrCurry, Nov 24 2003 A well-spotted comedy observation [kropotkin]. The traditional signs are counter-productive as the injustice at being urged to conform to a limit which is hopelessly beyond your reach only makes you want to put your foot down even more at the first opportunity - so a + for you.-- dobtabulous, Nov 24 2003 So would they explode if I blow past them at 135? ... extra pasrty for extra 'splosions ... [+] very nice idea, [kropotkin]-- Letsbuildafort, Nov 24 2003 I really don't like this idea. Who has a personal relationship with a sign?-- lizziepunkin, Nov 24 2003 Steve Martin </reference to L.A. Story>-- Worldgineer, Nov 24 2003 But would they flock?-- GenYus, Mar 17 2004 random, halfbakery