Another tourist complains about the poor signage leading to fine
We visited Bath in late June of this year – my wife and I from Canada and her sister and brother-in-law from the USA. On return I received notice in the mail that I will have a £57 charge on my Mastercard for driving in a bus zone on Pulteney Bridge.
The letter below was sent to the traffic authority in Bath is in response to their assertion in earlier communication that the bridge was clearly marked as being for buses only.
I send it to you because we were a part of your economy during our visit to Bath and it is not easy to decipher new systems and I had no opportunity to appeal this fine since it was automatically charged against my Mastercard by the car hire company. My letter read:
"I realise my case is hopeless, but I should suggest that the signs I found on the traffic plan from your website for Pulteney Bridge and other Bath locations do not clearly specify the information you suggest.
"The sign showing a bus, a motor cycle the word 'taxi' with a diagonal line do not convey to me that cars are not allowed. I would guess that such a sign would mean not to park or stop in the bus/motorcycle/taxi zone, but they do not convey to me that I am not allowed to drive on the road and cross the bridge.
"The lines on the road also do not convey any particular information. I realise this may not be true for UK residents, but these signs on your traffic plan convey very little to a foreign visitor who is concentrating on traffic – and trying to stay on the left side of the road.
"One doesn't have time to decode the cryptic messages on signs or "read" the diagonal road markings. Again, I would have interpreted the diagonal road lines to mean to keep out of the zone where the bus stops to pick up passengers. Here in Canada we convey such information with a red warning sign that would read "DO NOT ENTER – BUS ZONE". Has using plain language ever been considered? I'll wager that over 90 per cent of people driving on UK roads can read English while only a minority of your visitors from North America can figure out the cryptically symbolic UK road signs – it's like reading the symbols on a laundry tag.
"I know I should study British road manuals and completely acquaint myself with all the regulations before renting a car. However, even if I made such a study it is not likely I would have remembered the meaning of such a sign.
"While you have to design your roads and your notices in ways that local residents understand and are used to, it seems that cities like Bath, which enjoy great revenue from tourists, ought to provide clear and simple messages in situations such as these.
"Again, simple written messages are more easily understood than decoding symbols.
"Thank you for your time in reading this."
JOHN POTTS UFV-International University of The Fraser Valley British Columbia, Canada
9 Comments
by Dick, Bath
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 7:27PM
“This could actually be an idea for the Big Issue sellers to take up - wait for the car to pull up, tap on the window and say I can save you £50 in return for £10 - if they pay then tell them of the fine, if they dont let them on their way.”
by Daniel, Outside Bath
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 12:15PM
“In fact other most commented headline abbreviations make sense but have different meanings. Is this a game the staff play?
- Row over grieving mother's speed cameras...
- Meeting to thrash out worries over...
- Another tourist complains about the poor...
- Cyclist fights for life after Bath...”
by Daniel, Outside Bath
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 12:11PM
“I love the abbreviated title that appears on the website's most commented box:
Another tourist complains about the poor... [4]”
by James, Bath
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 9:33AM
“For UK drivers instead of a £60 fine perhaps as they are either unobservant or ignorant of traffic signs (a motorcycle on top of a car doesn¿t mean the circus is in town), should have to retake both the theory and practical test, reverting to a provisional until they manage to pass. One sign should be enough if they are safe drivers let alone multiple signs, road markings and coloured tarmac.
Foreign, I¿ll try that next time I¿m on the continent ¿ the sign means 80 kph not 80 mph well sorry I¿m on holiday I should be let off. Ignorance of the law is no defence.”
by David, Bath
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 9:29AM
“Well if someone did come out from the Guildhall and have a word, one thing's for sure, it wouldn't be Haeberling. I've known British Army snipers who've maintained a higher level of visibility than that woman....”
by Daniel, Outside Bath
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 10:30PM
“Actually if you did stand in the middle of the road with a big sign - stepping out the way when a bus or taxi approached so not to cause an obstruction. How much money do you think the council would loose in revenue for a day? How long would you have to do it before someone came and had a word?”
by Daniel, Outside Bath
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 10:26PM
“Last time I was in Bath someone was stopped at the traffic lights at the bus gate and I tapped on the window and told them that it was a bus lane and if they went through the lights they would may get a fine. They thanked me a backed up.
I am sure the majority of people are like this. I would love to see someone just stand for an hour and stop all the cars who are going through and tell them. I bet 80% of them will be making a genuine mistake.
Maybe do an experiment stand for 1 hour and just count the cars that cross the bridge. Then stand for a second hour with a huge sign saying "you will get a £60 fine if you cross the bridge" and see what difference it makes to the count.
If the difference is significant the current signage isn't sufficient - simple.”
by Moe, Bath
Thursday, August 19 2010, 10:19PM
“Vernon makes a good point. Perhaps we should dispense with all the deliberate obfuscation and just make it a toll bridge with a bloke at one end charging £60.”
by Vernon, Bay Tree Road
Thursday, August 19 2010, 6:37PM
“Is the sign in Argyle Street legal? It looks like any other shop sign and certainly doesn't stand out? How can motorists be expected to notice it and then read it before driving by?
Wouldn't a notice on the junctions be more appropriate. It could say " :( £60 fine to cross this bridge!"
Motorists would be in no doubt then and could not be confused as our poorer Canadian friend was.”