Re: Number of warnings

[Ned Bedinger <doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com>]

Gene Kim-Eng wrote:

> The two accident sites you refer to should probably have
> their advisories lowered.

I agree, and it's hard to believe that any existing and meaningful 
criteria for determining safe speed are being applied correctly to the 
series of curves. The OP has a definite point about the way useful rules 
are devalued by misapplication.

A study of highway signs would verge on the territory of semiotics 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotics).  AFAIK, semiotics isn't one of 
those communications disciplines that tech writers study much or get 
work in, but it contributes signs and symbols, and seems like it could 
be fair as a topic. With that assumption, anyway, I'll offer my $.02 
worth of banter about semiotic observations in the highway zone:

I don't often see new highway sign designs, but here are two seen in the 
past 5-10 years:

In the mountainous western US, a highway sign with no text, showing a 
cartoonishly-drawn rear quarter perspective of a semi truck in the 
process of tipping over. It signals "Curve ahead" (not "Stunt driving 
zone").

Another new one, seen on some urban freeway cloverleaf exits, has the 
text "Decreasing Radius" and shows a graphic depiction of a decreasing 
radius turn (the turn gets tighter as you get deeper into it). I don't 
know the history of this sign, but I feel it stands head and shoulders 
above all other highway signs I know, in not micromanaging everyone's 
speed, and putting more responsibility on the drivers to have or acquire 
concepts necessary to determine their own safe exit speed.  I like the 
idea that modern drivers are expected to grasp the meaning and 
significance of this sign and the behavioral change it calls for.

Signed,

Ned Bedinger
doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com





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