London Life Q-Z

The people at the Manifesto Club - who style themselves as a 'pro-human campaigning network' - think needless signs are a growing menace. They have launched a new project called 'Attention Please' to start a debate.

Sent in by Gordon Calder

Warning signs do have a role to play of course. They can be vital for health and safety. And we are all grateful to see the 'wet paint' signs just before we give the bench a wide berth. But can things be taken too far? Have we become such a bureaucratic and litigious (and stupid?) society that we need to be warned of the strikingly obvious?

'DANGER – Vehicles on the Road'

Does anyone really need to be told this?

The Manifesto Club hopes that the project will raise questions about what such signage means for the look and feel of urban life - and calls for a more rational approach to public space. They have created a photo essay to kickstart the discussion and hopes that members of the public will also submit their own signs.

To see the Manifesto Club photo essay:

To submit your silly signs:

Your Views

In Staines we have signs along the towpath warning us the river is unprotected. We know there is no fence there and the beauty of the towpath is the river.

At RHS Wisley I used to enjoy sitting on a bench looking at the River Wey, but now there is a fence blocking the view.

And why do we have so many little blue squares on poles telling us it is a cycle lane. The lane is clearly marked on the road with stencils of bicycles on the road at intervals. It isn't necessary for Spelthorne Council to put so many poles along the pavement causing a hazard for pedestrians.

I might be in the minority but personally I think the big LCD signs (on 2 poles for each sign) informing drivers where the spaces are in car parks are daft. If the sign tells you there is a space, by the time you get to the car park the spaces are taken. I often walk to Staines town centre but the pavement has been damaged by the installation of these signs, making it hazardous for walkers.

Lets get rid of these silly signs and "live dangerously"

Linda

I must take exception to your report on tonight's show about silly signs. One of the signs you picked out was a Caution Wet Floor one opposite Libertys store on the corner of Argyll Street and Great Marlborough Street. I know for a FACT that this corner is a big building site and the signs are there because the contractors spray water to keep dust levels down – hence the pavement being wet when there is no rain and therefore the placement of the signs (to indemnify the contractors).

Your reporter gave the impression that the sign was put there to warn that the pavement may be wet because of the weather - just another shameful case of inaccurate and misleading reporting.

For your information I have no affiliation whatsoever with the building works.

I do however feel that there are too many pointless signs. Yet another case of common sense going out the window and society pandering to the lowest common denominator.

Douglas Gray

The reason there are so many hazard warnings, cones , signs etc is because of this country's obsession with compensation. As soon as a member of the public is harmed (how ever minor the injury) they seek someone to blame and demand to be compensated. We never used to have warnings about the temperature of hot drinks on cups until someone sued a fast food company after they burnt their lip on a cup of coffee. The public gets what the public wants!!!!!

Jonathan Murray

I agree, health and safety warnings have reached ridiculous levels. I don't have a pic, but the other day I bought a bag of peanuts and the warning was........ contains nuts!

Anna

I'm afraid that as long as we continue to evolve into an increasingly litigious U.S. style nation of 'wounded or 'wronged' citizens looking for any reason to sue, then so called "obvious" signs and cones will be with us for a long time to come.

Brendan

The signs are there to keep us safe but can be dangerous as they are outside my school.

Sam Smith, aged 15

Excessive safety signage is only reflecting a fear of litigation.
The tendency to sue over any injury, howsoever slight, forces authorities to go way over the top on signage. It's the courts that need to exhibit common sense.

John Hawkins

We are obsessed with health and safety issues for fear of facing a legal action which explains the presence of obvious signs for obvious reasons.

Frank

I think it is a good thing to have signs to warn us and thus avoid people flooding the courts with negligence claims. Is it not a good thing to warn the carefree on the road? Better be safe than sorry!

Hemrish

Should we not blame the "No claim No Fee" Lawyers. Some people seem to think that they are entiltled to claim for any slight injury as the States so we have to state the obvious these days to cover ourselves. Common sense seems to have gone out of the window for lots of people

Sharon Deacon

The vast majority of the public at large are extremely stupid and need to have everything signed out. People leave their brains at home as soon as they step outside their front door.

Z. Jai Walsh

There are 2 points about these

1. They are usually an attempt to avoid compensation claims. The best way to deal with this is for courts to stop being silly, instead to throw out claims if the danger was obvious. For example: a packets of salted peanuts saying "may contain nuts" - well I would sue if that were not true (Sale of Goods act, or whichever it is!)

2. They can have the opposite effect to the intended warning. We all get so used to these obvious dangers that when a warning sign is genuinely useful we tend to ignore it, thus ruining the point of it!

Roger Hewitt

I have notice that even packets of peanuts say "may contain traces of nuts" This is very unnecessary!

Stacy Butler

I hate all these no smoking signes which are all over the place especially restaurants. Since everywhere is now non smoking they are pointless and we would do well to get rid of them.

Craig Edwards

After watching your lunchtime news - the guy on there was saying about how annoyed he was at signs and notices on items etc... What he fails to realise is that companies use these as disclaimers - eg. if a coffee cup has 'warning this coffee is hot on it' it's because if the customer accidently burnt themself on it they run back as quick as possible quoting law suits and compensation as there was no warnings on the cup - whether it's obvious or not.

Anonymous

The most unnecessary road sign that I have seen is the "You are leaving the foot and mouth control zone" signs on the M25. What are you supposed to do? Is every vehicle supposed to stop so that the occupants can wipe their boots on the disinfecting mat?

Paul Hodgson

Having just broken my wrist after not being able to see the lower step of a office building in London a week ago, my view is NO - some alerts are needed. This step actually had tape round it but as it was dusk it still was not noticeable when walking in the Friday rush hour. Perhaps in my case better lighting was needed there?

Yvonne from Romford