Because these things are popping up everywhere in towns in my area, on both local and state roads. Solar powered electronic speed sensor signs that provide feedback to the driver.
Once upon a time, these were only seen in school zones or problem areas. They also used to show your actual speed no matter how fast you were going. It was once my favorite game, to announce loudly "My Favorite Game!" and romp the accelerator as soon as I spotted one, much to the dismay of my wife that would ask "Do you have to do that?" My personal best was in a 25 MPH school zone in MA on a Saturday afternoon with no one around reaching a smokin' 74 MPH. But no more. DPW and DOT tyrants have ruined my fun and obviously the fun of many like me.
Some of the signs now simply don't turn on or go blank at certain speeds. The one closest to my house does both at 50 MPH. Others say "SLOW DOWN" or "TOO FAST" and some have attention getting strobes. I have seen a couple of strobes set up with alternating red and blue, I guess to make you think its a cop? The signs are obviously user programmable, so my new favorite is this one:
 |
| Aw... unhappy face because I am ignoring the speed limit |
These are more rare but fun to find... I made the sign unhappy. HA! HA! There was a rumor once upon a time that these things had a camera that took a photo of your license plate so you could get a ticket in the mail, but that was just bullshit.
Speaking of bullshit... on I-84 East in Tolland there is an overhead electronic sign that normally reads how long it will take you to go the 19 miles to the MA border. It also changes to give traffic and weather advisories. Speeds on that stretch of highway with a 65 MPH speed limit usually run 80+, yet the sign ALWAYS reads 19 miles in 18 minutes, never the true reading. The math for a true reading would be:
Distance x 60 / Actual speed = Time
So 19 x 60 = 1140 divided by the legal speed limit of 65 = 17.54 minutes rounded up to 18
where a true reading would be
19 x 60 / 80 = 14.25 minutes (rounded down to 14?)
The gubmint nannies have always told us that speeding doesn't make much difference in travel time, and it is so unsafe. Oh yeah? I would call 4 minutes over 19 miles a significant time savings and I usually crank along at a good clip. State police in Kommiecticut don't run radar traps anymore, even on this holiday weekend. They only bother with the really high speed and aggressive drivers. I was monitoring C.S.P. Troop C at the firehouse Friday, and they issued at least 4 BOLO alerts for high speed aggressive drivers IN THEIR AREA on I-84 from the MA border down to exit 64 in just a couple of hours. I don't have to worry about a speeding ticket. Even if I did get pulled over, my Kommiecticut fire department ID shows next to my license in my wallet and unless I did something really bad, acts as a "Get Out Of Jail Free" card.
Yep, there are grants. Oddly enough, the senators that arranged for the funding have kids that work for the two companies that make the speed displays.
ReplyDeleteCoincidence, I am sure.
@B: Please feel free to name those grifter senators.
DeleteBack about ten or so years ago., the outside loop Rd of San Antonio (loop 1604/Anderson Loop) was and still is a mess during rush hour.
ReplyDeleteSo the brains at the SA City hall decided to user someone's kids business to install digital speed limit signs-
Basically during rush hour when everyone was slowed down to 20MPH, the signs would read that the speed limit was......20MPH. when traffic was flowing the speed limit was around 60-65.
Those signs lasted about six months- or so before they weren't there anymore.
Probably a flock camera on the back side
ReplyDelete