I am seeing an explosion (both in Colorado and here in California) of electronic radar speed checking signs -- the "you are driving XX mph" (usually right above a sign showing the posted speed limit). I don't know if the prices have come down or if someone wrote an article somewhere suggesting Cities Should Really Do This or what.

I actually kind of like them (though they could easily become annoying -- and much less effective -- with saturation). It highlights where it's easy to let the "instinctive" speed of the car climb over where the actual posted speed should be. Plus there's that sense of, "well, if they're highlighting it here, there's a good chance that's where a cop's going to be" to add to the urge to slow.

But, as I said, if they become too common, they'll drop into the background and become as ignored as -- well, as actual speed signs (and speedometers).

Filed under :: Cars

Some of these are temporary. There was one near my place for a couple of days before xmas, then it was gone. I've seen them installed temporarily other places too, and I don't mean the big ones with their own wheels. Putting them in temporarily and moving them around should reduce adaptation to their presence.

True.

They seem to be most long-term (and I'm excluding the ones on minitrailers here) in places with serious speed issues, e.g., in front of schools.