Speed feedback signs remind drivers to slow down when entering Vinton - without a ticket
It's probably been a couple of weeks ago that an eagle eyed reader spotted the new poles going up around town. Now you can see the new signs that have been installed along Highway 218 and Highway 150 as you enter Vinton. The Iowa Department of Transportation uses these speed feedback signs to remind drivers to slow down when entering town.
These signs will not be issuing tickets but serve as a reminder to slow down and simply be aware that you might be traveling faster than you think.
These are not speed cameras installed on behalf of the city or county, but just a project used around the state called "speed feedback signs" to improve the safety of Iowa's local communities.
The IDOT website says, "These signs are proven traffic calming devices that will be placed along state highways within a community.
Speed management is a significant challenge for small cities in Iowa where the state highway through town serves a dual role. Outside of town, the roadway provides high-speed travel over long distances. But within the community, the same roadway accommodates local access, pedestrians of all ages, on-street parking, bicycles, and many other features unique to the character of a community. All of this presents both an enforcement challenge and a potential safety concern for the local residents.
Purpose of the signs
A speed feedback sign measures the speed of approaching vehicles and displays the speed on a digital sign. Installing these signs:
- Slows traffic through town
- Improves safety, especially for pedestrians and bicyclists
- Enhances the environment or "livability" of the streets for residents and visitors
- Reduces the need for constant police enforcement
- These devices provide speed feedback to drivers, they do not store data and do not conduct radar enforcement or result in automated speed violation tickets/citations"
So when you see the signs, now you know why they are there. They are just a gentle reminder that you're just about home! They are there to remind you that there might be a random child on a bike, or maybe a little kid chasing a ball or a person walking a dog across the street. We all need reminders from time to time.
(P.S. Thank Steve for capturing the photos!)
Editor's note: The first photo does not appear to be a speed feedback, I will check this on this Monday.
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The article does not tell that the 1st photo is of a speed camera and not the Speed Feedback signs.
Thank you,
Ol' Tom
Editor's Note: That's because I failed to look really closely at the pictures and didn't notice the difference, now I have more questions to ask :)
Editor's note: Thanks for your eagle eye. I went searching for the cameras pictured, but I suspect those were elsewhere as well. I pulled the picture down so there isn't confusion on that!