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RAUK - Archived Forum - TOAD SIGNE

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TOAD SIGNE:

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AGILIS
Senior Member
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
No. of posts: 694


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Posted: 05 Aug 2010
Well at least in Suffolk and on the Norfolk border we have real toad signes

   LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID
Paul Hudson
Member
Joined: 24 Sep 2004
No. of posts: 33


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Posted: 05 Aug 2010

I wonder what that guy is up to on the far right side of the photo,It looks like you caught him in an uncompromising position!! the mind boggles!

 

Paul Hudson

Paul Hudson40395.7498726852
Paul Hudson
tim hamlett
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2006
No. of posts: 572


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Posted: 05 Aug 2010

if i saw a toad looking as depressed as that one crossing the road i'd be tempted to run it over to put it out of its misery!

tim


Suzi
Senior Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
No. of posts: 860


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Posted: 05 Aug 2010
It's a nice idea but would people really stop or slow down for something so small? Think of badgers and hedgehogs - flattened, and they're bigger. The thing is by the time you see one (a toad or anything), and if there's other traffic, it's almost too late/dangerous to take avoiding action. If the sign is mainly for migration times then it would be best to just put one up then so that people don't become used to it all year round. Surely underpasses are better, or is the crossing area too widespread? I have no idea of the cost of such constructions.


Suz
Chris Monk
Senior Member
Joined: 21 Apr 2004
No. of posts: 157


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Posted: 05 Aug 2010
The highway regulations governing toad signs state that they should only be put up during the migration period (Feb to May), so they should be taken down or covered up outside of these times. (This does also mean that the signs have more impact as motorists are more likely to spot changes as Suzi says).
Putting in a toad tunnel crossing is very expensive unless included in new road construction or major road works on an existing road. Unfortunately that does not guarantee the toads will use the tunnel without fencing or other physical barrier to stop them getting onto the road and direct them into the mouth of the tunnel. Then the structures /fences have to be maintained.
I'm just dealing with a properly constructed toad crossing put in on a new road in Nottinghamshire in about 1996. There was no money to maintain the fences or tunnels, the former being vandalised or demolished by cars coming off the road and the latter units becoming loose or cracked. In the last few months the tunnels have been filled in with tarmac and all the fencing removed as I presume that was the Council's cheap option. From inquiries so far it appears that no-one ever monitored the success of the tunnels or the Council even consulted its own Ecologist before infilling it!
Here in Derbyshire we can't get the Council to even put up any signs, we have to buy our own signs and put them up and take them down ourselves.

Chris
Derbyshire Amphibian & Reptile Group
www.derbyshirearg.co.uk
will
Senior Member
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
No. of posts: 330


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Posted: 06 Aug 2010
I think that the toad signs are also supposed to alert motorists to the possibility that people may be in the road collecting animals, so there's a human road safety element too.    
Suzi
Senior Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
No. of posts: 860


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Posted: 06 Aug 2010
Well Will if that is their intention how would anyone know from the sign?!
Suz
will
Senior Member
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
No. of posts: 330


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Posted: 06 Aug 2010
I guess enlightened motorists might be aware that there's a certain eccentric group of people who save toads on roads, although maybe some people might think the sign refers to Cane Toads and that it's a request to run them over!
ben rigsby
Senior Member
Joined: 27 Apr 2010
No. of posts: 337


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Posted: 15 Aug 2010
hi folks,

weve had signs just like the one keith spotted in suffolk for years here in glos. i assumed they were widespread. like suze i have some reservations as to their efffectiveness but at least the prescence of toads is highlighted for motorists. better than NO sign. even if, as she suggests, their meaning is unclear.

the ones here are breeding season only.

on a driving assessment course once i learned that triangular "warning" road signs are only erected by councils at a given site following an accident/incident. they are not put up proactively at likely danger sites.
so i wonder how many toads died prior to sign erection here. they were there years before any signs went up.

happily, its worth remembering that amphibians often travel at night when there is less traffic. the road signs are well highlighted then in the beams of an oncoming vehicles lights. especially in rural locations.


ben
Diversity.
Baby Sue
Senior Member
Joined: 19 Feb 2008
No. of posts: 412


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Posted: 16 Nov 2010

I got the council to stick up 3 toad signs by me.

Well I asked if I could have temporary ones and the lady from the council looked into it but said no but I could have these so theyÆre been up a few years now and donÆt make a blind bit of difference. I mean it wouldnÆt as clueless people who donÆt know about frogs donÆt know they cross roads at night or in spring time so they might be passing in autumn in the daytime and just think froggies ainÆt around ever and the signs are a waste of time. They should be temporary ones really. & bigger and more noticeable cos I donÆt reckon everyone even notices them. For the nice people in Riddlesden I seem to be the main alerter, the nice people slow down when they see me with my torch and bucket but the majority of people donÆt care and just go straight over them.


I wanted presents from lots of you. Snot fair that Ben Rigsby was the only one to send me Xmas & birthday presents.

- TOAD SIGNE

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