Sign of the (stupid) times

Whilst travelling home post-Crimbo, I passed through at least 142 separate road-works on the M6. All were bereft of workmen, which is fair enough. Some even had the cones pushed back. All retained the 50mph speed limit (and don't get me started - I once got fined for doing 54mph in one such instance, and the letter was kind enough to say it was for "the safety of the workforce". I'm guessing that, as they were probably at home watching the Eastenders Christmas Special, me endangering them was fairly unlikely).

But what really wound me up was where the hard shoulder was being strengthened, and to give the contractors room to work in safety the lanes had been squeezed together a bit. You know the sort of thing; little shiny reflective yellow squares in a row (except for the stray ones making a run for it), and some pillock in a BMW who keeps drifting worrying into your lane.

Anyway, the overhead signs declared "NARROW LANES FOR YOUR SAFETY". Hang on a mo... MY safety? Exactly how was I safer?! I didn't feel safer. I'm pretty sure the presence of lorries that were only 1cm narrower than the lane itself weren't making if safer for me. Mr Pillock in the BMW sure as hell wasn't.

If the true dumbness of this statement was purely because of the restricted number of characters available, might I suggest a more reasonable alternative? What about "NARROW LANES ARE VERY SCARY". At least it would be factual.

Yay! January the 2nd, and I've already got a rant in!!

(Tonight's blog has been brought to you by Mendelssohn's Symphony No.4 In A Major, Op. 90. Honestly.)

Comments

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