Using Slow Children Road Signage Together with the Speed Limit Signage

A famous writer, Tom Vanderbilt, for “Slate” magazine wrote a post this past year wherein he studied the potential risks for kids brought about by Slow Children signage. You may be aware that there are actually many various kinds of these signs, but we shall simply contemplate on the common sign without examining each and every sub-category.

Though I never got to meet with Tom, I understand he had the best intention when he wrote the editorial piece. But it is a different question whether or not what he alleged in the article, in actuality, is the case. Let me just point out that I do not trust him there. In his editorial, Tom says that these Slow Children signs don’t only have no influence on drivers, but essentially calms them to slumber, metaphorically, since after cruising past all of these Slow Children street signs for so long that they never ever get to see any kids playing.

I am aware of just what Tom says. In fact, I know an old gal who put up one of these signs on a street not far right from here (not a US DOT authorized one, I may add) simply because fast moving cars irritate her. The reality is that there aren’t any youngsters in that vicinity other than maybe on occasion when her grandkids come over. Still, I know by personal experience that when I notice Slow Children signs in the area, I am much more alert, especially as I have small children myself.

Slow Children signs say to me, “Look out, just how would I feel if a child darted out in front of you and you drove into him or her?” And even though I may encounter the same signage every single day while driving about, they’re a reminder, such as the radar detector on my own dashboard, to be wary. You never know whose grandkids will be in the neighborhood!

There’s more to his op. ed. which is that when you see Slow safety road signs inside one area, and not another, are you going to for some reason assume there aren’t any little ones in the Slow Children sign-less place? He believes this to be feasible. Let’s say a child is run into by a vehicle in a zone where there are no Slow Children signs? Would the city, state or even county be accountable? May they possibly be prosecuted?

I do not want to head on down a rabbit trail right here on tort reform, nevertheless one tiny opinionated statement will not hurt. America, quit suing everybody about every little thing! Good,  I am much better after that.

While I understand what Tom is attempting to convey about Slow Children signage, he doesn’t provide any logical verification that these types of signs inure the viewers to the probabilities of young children playing in the streets, but he does offer a bit of scientific evidence of the craziness of a 35MPH speed restriction along with Slow Children signs. On this subject point I am in agreement. Tom reports that as the automobile’s speed hovers above 20 MPH, the chance of a fatal accident will amplify exponentially. And so now, with Slow children road signs, he advocates the practice implemented in several housing districts in London that is about 20 MPH speed limits.

Moreover, it may be the case that, as a result of this speed limit now, all of the signs are discounted, the Slow Children sign AND the speed limit sign. Try to think about it, overlooking both signs, consequently, is categorically the most awful case situation. I think that it will not make a difference whether be it a Slow Children signage or some other sign, folks who don’t give consideration to signs will certainly disregard this signage along with every other traffic sign. And logically, the same would certainly happen with speed limit signs. Should we have surveillance cameras on all of the streets and locations as well as police officers monitoring on nearly every area? Some might suppose this is a fine plan and others might avoid this thought stoutly. It certainly can be the most appropriate alternative for the young ones, I am sure.