Watch out!
Island ahead! Sounds like a strange warning right? Seems like common sense, being able to identitfy when there is a large object in front of you. Driving down Fremont Blvd a few weeks ago, I noticed for the first time just how many warnings there are letting you know of some obstacle in your way.
This one in particular is irking me. I mostly see this sign on a larger road (like Fremont Blvd.) at a left turn lane not at an intersection. Imagine you are driving, and want to turn left onto a small road. You see the turn coming up, put on your left blinker, merge into the lane, wait for it to be clear, and drive straight into the island?? Maybe it’s just common sense to me, but wouldn’t you see a large island, probably with a few trees, some bushes and surrounded by a curb, directly in front of you? Do people really need a sign warning them of the large object directly ahead of them? And that sign is part of the large object, so if they happen to miss the trees and shrubbery, they’ll notice the sign? And why would somone drive straight on if they’re planning on turning left?
The frequency of the signs makes me think that someone has been dumb enough to drive into an island, and then blame the city for it. “Well, I would’ve missed the island, if I could see it, maybe you could put a sign?”. And someone agreed, someone with some authority, agreed that a small white sign would help deter people from driving into an island in the road. As Nick put it, “I am constantly amazed by the incompetence of other people”. This might become a recurring theme.
