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Hazardous Journeys

Depiction of elderly and disabled people on road traffic signs: international comparison

BMJ 2003; 327 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7429.1456 (Published 18 December 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;327:1456

Rapid Response:

Are we too politically correct?

Editor

The traffic sign portrayed in figure 1 of the article is described in
the highway code as a 'warning (of) frail elderly people (or blind or
disabled)' (1.) It specifically does not include all elderly people and is
not attempting to make the statement that all elderly people are 'impaired
or inevitably disabled' as the authors suggest. It is however symbolic -
as per the 1960s Worboys recommendation - and does give a clear visual
warning that there may be frail pedestrians crossing ahead. The fit
elderly person may not be represented by this sign, but surely that is
because there is no need.
Two of the authors (MD & DD) state that they do not find the sign in
the least bit offensive and themselves use it as a warning when driving.

1. www.highwaycode.gov.uk

Competing interests:
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

31 December 2003
Dr Katrina F Darke
SHO paediatrics
Dr Timothy Johnson, Michael Darke (aged 80), Dorothy Darke (aged 71)
Bristol Royal Children's Hospital