Comments on: 14 MPH

By: Graham Hill

Graham Hill — Wed, 19 May 2010 03:15:49 +0000

In reality 15-20 mph seems to work for many neighborhoods. If you go with 25 they will do 30 and so on. So, getting a sign out in front of people with human activity people will get the idea that this is a slow street and it is busy so I can’t cruise through so easily. Make it 14 or 19 and people will know that might be the ultimate SPEED LIMIT!

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 12 May 2010 06:52:48 +0000

There’s a trend in discount retailing to choose unusual numbers for prices. $8.64 instead of $8.50. Apparently it makes consumers believe the price has been chosen for a reason, as though that’s the cheapest this item could be sold for.

These signs could have a similar effect, making people believe that the speed limit has been carefully tested and chosen specifically for this area.

I lived in Nauru for a while, where the speed limit was 48 km/h (translated from 30mph). There was no need for any enforcement though - people went very slow. Pacific time.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 10 May 2010 22:40:43 +0000

and then there are the slow children signs …
My friend made his kids pose for a photo underneath such a sign when they once misbehaved.

By: Yokota Fritz

Yokota Fritz — Mon, 10 May 2010 22:31:22 +0000

14½ mph sign on a county maintained road near my home. The speed limit and the sign are non-compliant with California state law so the speed limit is not enforceable, but I think the idea is to get people’s attention.

By: 2fs

2fs — Mon, 10 May 2010 22:05:20 +0000

Apparently there’s a speed limit here, too: when I tried to post the link that didn’t show up last time, the site told me to “slow down”… Trying again, plain text: http://www.flickr.com/photos/2fs/1451258750

By: 2fs

2fs — Mon, 10 May 2010 22:04:17 +0000

Yep - here’s another:

By: Branden

Branden — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:42:14 +0000

New Urban planned neighborhoods use similar tactics to slow speed. I asked the developers of one in Louisville and, like was mentioned above, they said a higher percentage of drivers notice an irregular number.

Anyone know the longterm effectiveness of such a strategy?

By: Alvin C.

Alvin C. — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:40:05 +0000

That’s the idea for these kinds of signs; get noticed and hopeably stick in the driver’s mind.
These novelty speed limits are often posted away from major public roadways, such as in commercial parking lots/driveways or in subdivisions or other residential communities. Also seen in small towns where someone in local gov’t has a sense of humor.
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM285Q_31_MPH_in_Trenton_TN
(click “Unusual Speed Limits” to see LOTS more from all over)

By: Jim PE

Jim PE — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:10:27 +0000

Both signs are actually in violation of the MUTCD. Speed limits must be multiples of 5 mph, and the children at play sign is non-compliant.

By: fred_dot_u

fred_dot_u — Mon, 10 May 2010 19:52:35 +0000

I’ve seen a similar photo, a sign reading, “Speed Limit 12 1/2″ for the same purported purpose. Make it unusual, perhaps it will be noticed. Perhaps it will be noticed, then ignored.