Motorcycle travel series by @velimir 'Zagorje 30' (Part #140)
Just as I start to ride, I remember that this is something I always wanted to write about and usually forget. Not this time! :) What you see right there is what we colloquially call a "laying cop", a speed limitation system with numerous limitations, introduced a few years ago to the dread and fear of many car drivers and to the joy and prosperity of many car service owners.
In the beginning, the system was used with caution, only close to schools and hospitals, what nobody minded but, on the contrary, we all welcomed it as a safety measure to prevent accidents involving children and elderly. Soon after that, when powers to be realized how much money can be made by taking kickbacks from the importers, they senselessly started to pop these monsters everywhere.
These are the only warnings that a monster is laying in front of you.
So when a car is to cross the obstacle, a driver usually slows down to 10km/h and, in doing so, endangers the vehicle behind. The driver of the vehicle behind has no clue why the car in front of him decided to suddenly break. And guess what - it's his fault if he hits another car from behind, right?
For motorcyclists, these represent a whole new dimension of danger. Not only that we have a longer breaking time and limited options in curves than the cars but we are supposed (by the law) to go straight over these things. Stupid, ha? Tell me, who in the sane mind would ride over that? So, nobody does, of course. I've never seen anyone do it, except very likely as a part of a motorcycle riding exam. We all go around them and put ourselves in danger. Isn't that a hilarious fact?
In the winter the snow cleaning service vehicles usually break the "laying cops" and they are gracefully replaced with the new ones in the spring. Secured income, right? The screws often fall out and puncture car tyres (happened to me personally).
There is no proof these things save lives, except in places like schools and hospitals (what I welcome) but I've surely seen the danger of accidents and the damage they cause to the vehicles if driven over at regular speeds.
"Laying cops" are everywhere because someone's got to make money, right?
Enjoy your day and don't let them install them where you live! :)
(Note: This is my second trip to Zagorje through a different route. The first trip ended with part Zagorje 29, so I'll continue to number parts from there.)
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I wish they want to start installing them here by schools in South Africa looks like they can safe a lot of lifes. Thank you for sharing!
you obviously didnt read the article :D
I did but you said by school they helped. ☺ Only sad part is about the people going around them!
Lol. In India they make even more money by not building them in the first place and conveniently forgetting to build the road as well!
Thanks to the humongous potholes traffic can't move fast and everyone makes a lot of money. Except the everyday commuter who shugs out more for maintenance of their vehicle and toll for the terrible roads!
For a motorcyclist it is even more dangerous because the rider is always at risk of going over the bars or rear ending a car and going over the bars.
Your 'laying cops' don't seem so bad in comparison :p
HAHAHAHA ok ok, you got me there!!! ;)
@velimir as a fellow motorcyclist I agree with you here. In the US they call them speed bumps and they are typically made of concrete or asphalt so no worries about screws falling out and puncturing tires or the snow plow damaging them. However, ours typically span the entire road so there is no gap in the middle for a motorcycle to "drive around" them.
I always feel like I'm going to launch my passenger off the bike when my rear wheel hits the bump. Thanks for the article! I always love seeing your photos!
yes... these are even worse. when across the entire road, ours are smaller but high...
Always like reading your traveling series well done for the great work you doing
I just found this blogpost now. Interesting read about the "laying cop". In Norway we call it a "speed bumb" (more or less directly translated). They can be really annoying, and are made in concrete, asphalt or some kind of stone. Yours look kind of cool, but I understand the risk and danger to bikers.
These monster things have only disadvantages. In the mountains, they are exchanged and replaced with Rader Speedboxes. Also not better :(
well, at least you don't bump into them :D
My first reaction is Oh dear. Why do they do this because this thing can do more harm than good as you point out. I hope the people object to this and have it removed. In our country, it is even worse with roads being the worst in the world. Thanks for writing about it. Tweeted
Thank you :)))
Here in Israel, all they have is "laying cops". Cureously enough there are no real cops on the beat. Pity, the way Israelis drive, they really need them "out". Not "laying down".
lol :D
in Aruba is also "laying cops or dead cops" no life where taken though lol
It is interesting how something that starts as a safety measure turns into a profit machine. Capitalism at its finest
hm....