This sign should not be posted at the edge of the street.

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In general, European signs are less verbal than American signs. This is understandable in a continent with dozens of languages. Well, in the US you expect people to understand what they read, in Europe we don't. Hence, our road signs are based on symbols where ever possible. The surprising thing is that there has been consensus over the choice and style of symbols in all our countries ever since the car was invented.

What a pathetic sign. Whichever way you look at it this smacks of segregation and ostracisation.

Why could they not put up a sign saying "children with special needs play here"?

There is already so much ignorance in the general public about autism - why would they therefore assume that every driver would be aware of the implications of the children being autistic? And anyway, no child should be playing in the road (or even right next to the road), autistic or not (and certainly not without adult supervision). That's what gardens, playing grounds, fields and parks are for.

Assuming the sign is not fake or a prank, it's a little unnecessary. If an autistic child is playing outside there will invariably be a parent, aide or guardian close by. If it's to warn other parents then it's also misdirected as autistic kids are in more physical danger from feral NT children than they pose to anyone else.

Autistic children tend to be stupidly nieve and not understand body language properly. Those areas with the signs could be taken advantage of by dirty paedophiles. I understand that not all children with autism are nieve and I understand the core reason for the sign but it will end badly.

Well, given that autistic children are often 'runners' then I think it's sensible to have sign advising drivers to be cautious...that's all the sign is doing

That is stupid, NT kids are just as likely to get knocked down on the road, I hear of all sorts of things that happen to children on the news every week, and probably only about once a year it may be an Autistic kid.

It seems over zealous, but that's our country nowadays. They have them for deaf children too. Anyone correct me if I'm mistaken, but don't these signs have to be requested by the family? The government doesn't just come nail one down in your front yard.

Last edited by MjrMajorMajor on 25 May 2013, 1:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

But that's one of the very reasons no parent in their right mind would leave an autistic child playing alone...so the sign wouldn't be needed in the first place.

where i live (portsmouth in britain), we dont put children into groups. we just have signs with pictures that mean 'warning, play area'.

when im driving the bus at the peek times where the children are coming out of school, there are traffic wardens about making sure cars are going at a safe speed and too many cars are not parked in inconvenient spaces. also there are lollypop ladies about to help the children cross the road, autistic or not.

That's what I think of the sign.

The sign would be meaningless to most drivers and ignored.
The standard SLOW - Children at play sign will be more meaningful.

I agree with you. Haters would use that sign as an excuse to try and run over the kids.

What is the context of the sign? Is it by a park, a residence, or a school? For instance there is a family near my neighborhood that has a sign by the street, near their home, that says Deaf Children at Play, or something to that effect. It makes sense because if a deaf child is in the street, they would not hear the car zooming upon them, nor the horn when driver finally realizes the child is not going to move and they are driving to fast to stop.

I cannot go into if it makes sense having such a sign for Autistic because I don't know the circumstances for placing the sign where ever it is. There must have been some well meaning reason behind it..

When I first read it, I understood what it was for, but I also thought "why would they direct Autistic children to play by the street." I knew that was absurd, so I found it funny.

I've seen a sign in my area say "deaf children" and I assume the school there must be a special school for deaf kids. That was near my old apartment.

Some autistic children get out of their homes without the parent knowing about it or whomever is watching them.

Of note, there are ASD schools, and that'd be a smart location to put said sign.