What?

**Harsh** · 20-08-08

Beware, elderly people getting crosser: OAPs demand revamp of insulting crossing sign

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...sing-sign.html

It is one of the most instantly recognisable traffic signs - a hunched couple with a walking stick warning motorists to watch out for elderly pedestrians crossing the road.

But campaigners are calling for it to be scrapped because it is insulting to today's fitter, healthier senior citizens.

They say it should be replaced with either a new image or traffic-calming measures to safeguard elderly lives in a more politically correct way.

'The sign portrays a small proportion of the older generation,' said Help the Aged senior policy officer Lizzy McLennan, 26. '

Very few older people are hunched over, with a walking stick.

'They are assuming everyone who is old looks like that, and they don't.'

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, said: 'The motivation behind these signs - to make drivers more careful of their speed in areas with residential care homes - is positive.

'However, in practice a reduced speed limit in such areas, as implemented in school districts, would be a more welcome way to achieve this.'

The current sign for 'elderly people crossing' was the winning entry in a children's competition held in 1981.

Barry Earnshaw, chief executive of Age Concern Lincoln, said: 'I am 65, so therefore I am considered an elderly person.

'The sign doesn't represent older people as they are today.

'There should be a generic sign that is representative of all vulnerable pedestrians, regardless of age.

'The objective is to make people slow down - there needn't be separate signs for different types of pedestrians. It is very outdated.'

The Taxpayers' Alliance described the objections as ridiculous and a waste of public money.

Campaign director Mark Wallace said: 'They should pay more attention to the real concerns of older people - rising taxes and soaring household bills.'

Regulations introduced in 2003 did away with the caption 'elderly people' underneath the road sign because it was ageist.
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so let me get this right, a 26 year old is telling us what the elderly want?

where do i start?

its a sign, people react to it,
it says what it needs to so , i know, lets change it!

ok so there are fit and healthy pensioners around...of course there are, but they are not going to have trouble crossing the road are they?

they dont need a sign...the ones who are infirm do (the signs tend to be posted near old peoples homes)

why do we pay these people?

grrrrrr more ranting soon

**Dan H** · 20-08-08

I saw this on the news this morning and thought WTF??

If they are doing this then they should change the roadworks sign too - because that shows someone who looks like they are working, which is only representative of about 10% of the people there

**Dizeee** · 20-08-08

I believe it also discriminates against those with slipped discs, those with a vitimain C deficiency and those who have a general obsession with sticks. :cheers2:

**Marcellus** · 20-08-08

also what about the sign for cattle in the road....there are other types of live stock too don't they know!!

**Ben-san** · 21-08-08

I'm all for it - I mean, just think of the awful duck 'n' duckling crossing signs. Don't they know that there are some poor Donalds out there that can't have kids?

**Marcellus** · 21-08-08

and....falling rocks...........what are you supposed to do when you see that sign???

3 Options;
1) put your foot down to reduce the time exposed to danger?
2) slow to a crawl so that if one starts to fall you can stop in time?
3) stop and turn around?