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For context, across the UK we have similar systems for speed limits. They are not used for enforcement or prosecution. They are informational boards. Actual sp

For context, across the UK we have similar systems for speed limits. They are not used for enforcement or prosecution. They are informational boards. Actual speed cameras are different (usually a yellow or blue box that doesn't give any feedback). It's basically a sort of 'big brother is watching' reminder. Some of them show your actual speed on a big LED board, leading to individuals attempting to get a "high score". It sounds from the article like this would be the same. A board that flashes a mobile phone if you might be using one. As far as I'm concerned, it's a complete waste of time (because I know these boards are meaningless), but the other side of the coin is that a decent number of people actually are afraid of enforcement action due to the signs and slow down.

Freak_NL 8y ago
It's not fear of enforcement that motivates people to act on these signs, it is the moral reminder that their behaviour is not socially acceptable (not to mention illegal). For a large group of people this works. Speeding (and being a smombie behind the wheel) is something people often do unintentionally, or with a rationalization mindset of 'everybody does it' (or something along those lines). For both these cases a reminder without further consequences can guide them to better behaviour. For the rest who just make their own rules enforcement remains necessary of course, but it helps if you can get a good number of people to cooperate intrinsically.
- esotericn 8y ago
  I suppose it depends a lot on your local area. Where I live there are tons of these 'flashy speed limit' signs. I don't think I've ever seen anyone obey them. 35-40mph in the new London '20 zones' is completely normal behaviour if the road permits; everyone does indeed do it, including buses and off-duty police/ambulances. It is, in fact, empirically socially acceptable (by the drivers if not necessarily by people who live there). In areas with speed bumps you see much lower speeds because people don't want to damage their vehicles. Enforcement, basically. The same is true for real speed cameras, people tend to speed up and slow down. That said, mobile phone use is different. I think most people intuitively recognise that using a phone at the wheel, particularly in an urban area, is really quite dangerous, and maybe a sign would work.
  - nmstoker 8y ago
    Don't want to sound condescending about drivers but on my street I see plenty of people who don't alter their behaviour with the speed bumps - either because they are not observant or it's not their vehicle (the council rubbish vans get thrown over them at high speed by their angry careless drivers!)
  - stordoff 8y ago
    Further anecdotally, there is one at the entrance to my village (where a 50 goes down to a 30), and I've seen _plenty_ of people slow down when it flashes.
drekembemutombo 8y ago
I've heard somewhere that the speed displays actually help a lot with slowing down the traffic where they're put up. I slow down when I see them too, not because I'm afraid of enforcement action, but because I just forget how fast I'm going sometimes and that board reminds me. Plus, it feels kind of satisfying when you do slow down and you get the green smiley face along with a message thanking you.
- notacoward 8y ago
  I think there's a threshold effect here. People will slow down a bit but not too much. Above that threshold, the reward of being recognized as law-abiding is outweighed by the inconvenience/annoyance of being coerced to what seems like an unnecessarily low speed. Similarly, if the signs are everywhere people start to tune them all out. While they're very cost-effective in general, it's definitely possible for a town to overplay their hand and ruin their effectiveness.
wil421 8y ago
We have these in the US too. Lots of times around schools zones or areas where residents have complained about speeding. They look a lot like a speed sign but have a crude screen with numbers that flash when you go over. There are other signs that show the speed limit and then flash yellow lights if you’re going to fast. Thankfully I don’t think it’s legal for speed cameras in my state although they do have ones at stoplights.

Freak_NL 8y ago

It's not fear of enforcement that motivates people to act on these signs, it is the moral reminder that their behaviour is not socially acceptable (not to mention illegal). For a large group of people this works. Speeding (and being a smombie behind the wheel) is something people often do unintentionally, or with a rationalization mindset of 'everybody does it' (or something along those lines). For both these cases a reminder without further consequences can guide them to better behaviour. For the rest who just make their own rules enforcement remains necessary of course, but it helps if you can get a good number of people to cooperate intrinsically.

esotericn 8y ago
I suppose it depends a lot on your local area. Where I live there are tons of these 'flashy speed limit' signs. I don't think I've ever seen anyone obey them. 35-40mph in the new London '20 zones' is completely normal behaviour if the road permits; everyone does indeed do it, including buses and off-duty police/ambulances. It is, in fact, empirically socially acceptable (by the drivers if not necessarily by people who live there). In areas with speed bumps you see much lower speeds because people don't want to damage their vehicles. Enforcement, basically. The same is true for real speed cameras, people tend to speed up and slow down. That said, mobile phone use is different. I think most people intuitively recognise that using a phone at the wheel, particularly in an urban area, is really quite dangerous, and maybe a sign would work.
- nmstoker 8y ago
  Don't want to sound condescending about drivers but on my street I see plenty of people who don't alter their behaviour with the speed bumps - either because they are not observant or it's not their vehicle (the council rubbish vans get thrown over them at high speed by their angry careless drivers!)
- stordoff 8y ago
  Further anecdotally, there is one at the entrance to my village (where a 50 goes down to a 30), and I've seen _plenty_ of people slow down when it flashes.

drekembemutombo 8y ago

I've heard somewhere that the speed displays actually help a lot with slowing down the traffic where they're put up. I slow down when I see them too, not because I'm afraid of enforcement action, but because I just forget how fast I'm going sometimes and that board reminds me. Plus, it feels kind of satisfying when you do slow down and you get the green smiley face along with a message thanking you.

notacoward 8y ago
I think there's a threshold effect here. People will slow down a bit but not too much. Above that threshold, the reward of being recognized as law-abiding is outweighed by the inconvenience/annoyance of being coerced to what seems like an unnecessarily low speed. Similarly, if the signs are everywhere people start to tune them all out. While they're very cost-effective in general, it's definitely possible for a town to overplay their hand and ruin their effectiveness.

wil421 8y ago

We have these in the US too. Lots of times around schools zones or areas where residents have complained about speeding. They look a lot like a speed sign but have a crude screen with numbers that flash when you go over. There are other signs that show the speed limit and then flash yellow lights if you’re going to fast. Thankfully I don’t think it’s legal for speed cameras in my state although they do have ones at stoplights.