Welsh get incomprehensible anti-GPS signs

Apparently looking to avoid unfortunate incidents like this (or this, or this), the Welsh Assembly recently agreed to put up signs warning drivers not to use their GPS along narrow lanes. Problem is, the drivers may end up spending more time trying to figure out the meaning of the signs than they ever did staring at their GPS. According to Sky News, the signs are aimed specifically at lorry drivers, who seem to have been particularly prone to getting stuck along roadways around St. Hilary in the Vale of Glamorgan -- a problem one local resident described as a "nightmare." Despite those potential issues of comprehension, that region has now gotten four of the signs as part of a one-year trial period, although there doesn't appear have to been any word on their effectiveness (or lack thereof) just yet.

[Thanks, Barry T]

[Nathaniel C @ Aug 28th 2007 11:25AM]

Why can't they just put a sign that says "GPS" with a cross over it? Like a no smoking sign? But I doubt drivers would listen anyway.

[Wwhat @ Aug 28th 2007 4:59PM]

Analphabetic/dyslexic lorry drivers obviously, there's a lot of lorry traffic from countries where that's common.
Not that it STILL wouldn't be easier to figure out than this sign I guess.

[Mike @ Aug 29th 2007 11:23AM]

it does actually say underneath, in English, what the sign means. Here in the UK we get a lot of European drivers who may not understand. The photographer cut out the words in order to make it appear more ridiculous.

[Bill @ Aug 28th 2007 11:39AM]

No trucks when satellites are overhead!

[Rob @ Aug 28th 2007 12:07PM]

That's exactly how I interpreted it.

[RickSF @ Aug 28th 2007 12:40PM]

Well it's certainly not no satellites when TRUCKS are overhead, silly.

[Chris @ Aug 28th 2007 11:40AM]

Hooray, more regulation!!! I would trust GPS to get me where I want to go before I would trust that other motorists will obey traffic signs/laws.

[Mike @ Aug 29th 2007 11:18AM]

Its not a regulation, its a sign. Theres no law to back it up, its meant to be helpful. I live in rural Wales, and have been stuck behind lorries which have been following their GPS, and cant go forward or back. Its mostly continental drivers, whose grasp of the English language may not be perfect - a pictogram may seem funny but these long distance artics come from all over Europe. There is already height/weight restrictions but these get ignored.

[comrade @ Aug 28th 2007 11:42AM]

Watch out! Truck-targeting killer satellites here!

[Marshall @ Aug 28th 2007 11:54AM]

The people who have these problems don't seem to look at the road or warning signs, so I dooubt they will even see these. Maybe if the GPS unit told them to look at the sign that said not to trust the GPS.

[RickSF @ Aug 28th 2007 12:46PM]

To me it says: Red Stripe Dish Network Trucks Allowed.. how many people have died trying to read this friggin sign?

[Trevor Maskery @ Aug 29th 2007 5:53AM]

sounds clever to me. welsh roads are notorious for being either tiny or on cliffs with sheer drops. cars have no problems with turning round and going back but its obvious lorry drivers that have complained to the wrong people about being taken down the wrong road. damn map providers not doing their jobs properly.

[James @ Aug 28th 2007 12:07PM]

If it were still around, I'm sure this would wind up on This Is Broken. I read it as "No Trucks; Satellites OK"... heh...

[fitinferno @ Aug 28th 2007 12:20PM]

Either that or this could read as a two part story of the Welsh's quiet reminder to the world that they now have lorry-destroying crazy satellite lasers...

They're just daring you to try using that gps...

[Magallanes @ Aug 28th 2007 1:32PM]

I can read :orbital strike can destroy trucks.

[Loomis @ Aug 28th 2007 1:52PM]

What, no ubiquitous SkyNet joke yet?

[Tobi @ Aug 28th 2007 12:46PM]

I live in Wales and saw one of these signs last week. It didn't seem clear however under the sign it read "Do Not Follow GPS Directions"... clearer?! I think not! If it wasn't bad enough to put every road sign in 50 different languages now we have to put up with stupid signs like this. Thanks National ASSembly.

[HineyWipe @ Aug 28th 2007 12:50PM]

Satellite advisory: "Buckle that lorry!"

[Eldiablo @ Aug 28th 2007 2:08PM]

To me it said:-
Caution, lorries will be zapped with giant frikkin lazer beam from the US "Death Star" flying past.

[Wes @ Aug 28th 2007 3:01PM]

We do not welcome our satellite directed, lorry driving overlords.

[Wwhat @ Aug 28th 2007 5:01PM]

the satellite image isn't too bad though, I think anybody can see that's a satellite (and a lorry but that's an easier image to make).

[Travis May @ Aug 28th 2007 7:26PM]

No launching satellites from lorries. Violators will be vaporized.

[Chris @ Aug 29th 2007 3:22AM]

Surely the whole point of GPS is that you don't need to look at signs ? ?

[Mathew Hillman @ Aug 29th 2007 7:32AM]

Surely the obvious problem is that Lorry drivers haven't set their GPS's to Lorry rather than car so its only a matter of time till they get stuck or cant go under bridges etc like has happened numerous times before.

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