Is St Helier making money out of racism?

[admin]

I have been pondering a point since I accompanied a foreign born person to the centiniers office this week to be fined for turning right into a one way road. (the correct way)

As many of you may know, there are many signs up by David Place to advise you that you should not turn right to go down vitoria street but must instead turn left up St Marks road, turn right up Byron Road and then Right again down Stopford Road (I have a map in front of me because I never remember the names of roads).

Now taking into account that all these signs are written in English and there is a great majority of people in the Island who can't read english (never mind reading it while travelling in a car, many of them who were in the centinies office that night), you would imagine that the Parish of St Helier would have placed an actual road sign that is recognisable in every country in the world and is a requirement most countries. Red Circle, arrow pointing right, line through it.

Now imagine that you get to the traffic lights at the junction to Vitoria Street and because you don't read English you see a sign that says "oirweory sdfeew ygyuw" but you see on the traffic light under the red light a sign that shows

Would you turn right? (assuming that was the way you needed to go?)

A couple of questions here.

1) is it legal for the parish to be fining non english reading people up to £50 each when there is no sign that would be identifiable by any other than English reading people? (also those that are dyslexic or have reading difficulties that are not foreign)

2) As the road prior to roadworks in a totally different road was available to turn right into, does this change in preventing people from turning right not need to be confirmed by the court before it is fine-able?

3) Are road signs not supposed to be 2.1M above ground level to be legally enforcable (or is this not applicable in Jersey).

4) Did the parish of St Helier not provide a recognisable no right turn sign (shown below) so that they could make the sums of money that they have made from fining these people?

5) is this a form of racism?

[Pomme de terre]

I know the area, but I'm a bit confused by your post. To recap:

Your friend is driving down David Place towards town
He gets to the lights at the Royal Hotel
If he wanted, he could go straight on and would end up going down Bath St
He cannot turn left into Stopford Road, because a sign tells him not to
He chooses to (illegally) turn right into Victoria St, but this is because the only information telling him NOT to turn right is a text-only sign saying "no right turn" that he does not understand?

Is that a correct summary? If so, I would say the road signs are poor and that the best solution is for them to be changed so that a sign indicating both "No left turn" and "No right turn" is displayed: your friend would know his only option is to go straight down Bath St at that point.

But no, I don't think it's racist. I've screwed up on the roads of France, Spain, Italy and the USA, and I would have expected a minor kicking from the local old bill had I been caught.

[Deputy Dawg]

I believe the Parish should be using legally and easily identifiable signs as shown in the Highway Code.

There is a bit of a debate here on Racism, though I doubt it has anything to do with Planet Jersey (their logo looks like a cross between Danrok and Admins)

http://www.planetvids.com/html/Micallef-Program-on-Racism.html

[Jason the Maverick]

I think it is a case of 'when in Rome'.  I have seen road signs in France that have been confusing but just imagine it if people started to demand universal language signs in France and the reaction!

In reality St Helier is a tiny town and there are far too many cars passing through it all the time now.  As far as reading road signs, maybe some of these foreign registered cars should slow down a bit first.

[Razzard]

Can anyone explain why you now can't turn right into Victoria Street if yoru coming down David Place?

Is this just a temporary thing or is it permanent? 

[churchill]

I have an idea. Is there any way i can get these people that have been fined for turning right into Victoria road together. I would take them to the town hall ,confront Simon  and demand their money back. As far as i see it you are absolutely right the signs are inadequate. And of course notify the media what was happening. And yes play the racist card. This is daylight robbery.

CHEERS.   ALVIN.

[Chris]

Are you allowed to turn left coming from the other way?
In fact don't cars go straight over legally?

Slightly confused as to why it's there. Seem to be directing traffic into the center of town.

[Jersey Spud]

Can anyone explain why you now can't turn right into Victoria Street if yoru coming down David Place?

Is this just a temporary thing or is it permanent? 

Temporary while the gas pipes are being laid. Stops unecessary tail backs.

[danrok]

Are you allowed to turn left coming from the other way?
In fact don't cars go straight over legally?

Slightly confused as to why it's there. Seem to be directing traffic into the center of town.

Yes, this the point, you have to turn left coming from the other way - heading north up Bath Street to David Place.  The diversion signs direct you that way instead.

[churchill]

I don't believe the sign saying no right turn  in david place is legal .

why don't they put the correct no right turn sign up and lets see how many motorists still ignore it.

I suspect no one will.  But than no more fines . Loss of income for the parish.

I'm going to set up a topic ANGRY MOTORIST .
Lets here your views on the state of motoring around jersey.

ALVIN.

[en830]

With the recent announcement of the introduction of new anti-discriminatory laws, I guess all traffic signs will have to be in English, French, Portuguese, Polish and Welsh.

[churchill]

NO NO I didn't mean put up multi lingual signs.

Just put up one sign that we all know means no right turn.

ALVIN.

[Fritz]

Internationally recognised signs would suffice. The £30,000+ one at Rouge Boullion Police Station seems to be working fine. LOL.