Common sense has been drowned out by a flood of dumb, expensive warning signs – and that’s dangerous | Jess Adamson

We used to rely on common sense to stay safe but that’s been replaced by stupid, offensive and expensive visual pollution, writes Jess Adamson.

We ducked into to our local medical centre last week for my daughter to have an X-ray.

The kind radiographer checked her name, birth date and address, and then, when I left the room, asked her if she was or could possibly be pregnant.

Our daughter is 12.

Apart from being a bit awkward, it wasn’t a big deal. It’s biologically feasible for a 12-year-old to be with child and better to be safe than sorry when it comes to radiation.

But we’re treading a dangerous path.

A friend in the UK sent me a photo recently from a medical waiting room in London.

A sign on the wall read “Please be aware ALL patients aged 12 to 55 being X-rayed will be asked whether there is any chance of them being pregnant, regardless of gender.

Regardless of gender?

How on Earth has the UK’s National Health System arrived at this point? It is offensive, ridiculous and just plain stupid.

A sign displayed in a UK hospital takes risk aversion to a ridiculous new level. Picture: Supplied

The guidelines, introduced by the Society of Radiographers in the UK, are aimed at “eliminating the possibility of exposing a foetus in a male presenting individual while ensuring the patient feels safe and respected.”

They were introduced after a transgender man underwent a CT scan when he was unknowingly pregnant.

James Barber, Chair of the Society of Radiographers LGBTQI and Equalise Workers Group, says we now live in an age where we “cannot assume someone’s biological ability to become pregnant based on the gender they present as.”

The safety of unborn children is paramount but in the interests of not offending non-binary and transgender patients, the protocol is surely offending many more.

There must be simpler ways to work out who is at risk in these situations.

For starters, if the medico treating me didn’t know my birth gender despite having access to my health records and no doubt a fresh and extensive medical questionnaire I’d just filled out, then I’m probably in the wrong place altogether.

Imagine the confusion of a 12-year-old boy being asked if he could be pregnant, without his parents present. It’s not right.

Ridiculous signs like that one in the UK are on the rise here. Signs that take us for idiots are too.

“TAXIS”, the huge black and white sign shouts at Brisbane Airport. Please join shortest queue. Oh, do I have to? I was really hoping to join the one snaking down Arrivals Road. How on earth is a sign like that agreed on by those in charge?

Helpful advice from a taxi sign Brisbane airport. Picture: Supplied

In case you needed to be told … Picture: Supplied

Our local dog park has a shiny new sign next to the creek. There’s a picture of a mother holding a child’s hand, crossed out in a big red circle.

Is this really a common parenting concern? Picture: Supplied

“Keep away from fast flowing water”, it says. The creek rages in winter yet somehow,

without the sign, we’ve all managed to stay safe for many years. There’ve been nervous moments for a few dogs who’ve misjudged the torrent, but they only do it once.

Thank the Lord dogs can’t read yet because if they could, just imagine the signs our local councils would be erecting for them at great expense to us all.

Three signs nailed to the fence tell us that golfers are not welcome in the dog park.

The only sticks I’ve seen there are the ones our furry friends are fetching and it’s not because of the signs.

A row of witches’ hats appeared on the footpath in our neighbourhood recently. They came with 2 “Beware of the Bees” signs.

TELL US THE DUMBEST SIGN YOU’VE SEEN IN THE COMMENTS

The detour was put in place by a well-meaning resident, not for a dangerously crowded, heaving hive but a flowering tree attracting bees to do exactly what they’re here for – pollination. I was more likely to be hit by a car as I navigated the witches’ hats than stung.

At Victor Harbor’s Encounter Bay boat ramp there are no less than 18 signs, all bunched together in a 5-6 metre space.

There are so many of them that I’m positive 99 per cent of boaties would drive right by.

The extensive list of required reading at Encounter Bay boat ramp. Picture: Supplied

This is apparently not mentioned in the boat license tests. Picture: Supplied

“CAUTION at low tide, SHALLOW WATER,” one shouts in red.

Dear oh dear, if someone reversing their expensive machine into the water is learning that for the very first time, we’re all in strife.

“CAUTION, slippery when wet” with a comical picture of a man airborne above the boat ramp.

“WARNING – all boat operators are advised that a number of hazards exist in Encounter Bay..”

“Snapper closure”, “4 knot limit”, “Keep your distance from whales, dolphins and seals”, “Restricted zones,” “Sanctuary zone”, “West Island Aquatic Reserve”, “Wright Island – Seabirds Breeding, please do not disturb them.”

It’s an appalling waste of ratepayers’ money, an absolute eyesore and a reminder that less is always more.

Once upon a time “Keep Out” would have sufficed. Picture: Supplied

Private properties used to be marked as just that, a simple sign with “Keep Out – Private Property” normally did the job.

Not anymore.

One that caught my eye recently read: “DANGER, electric fence, keep off, keep away, do not disturb, working livestock guardian dogs, Please DO NOT feed dogs or livestock. Do not put hands or body parts through, on, or against fence. Enter ONLY with Authorisation.”

I’m exhausted just reading it let alone putting my body parts through the fence.

Back in 2015, the Charles Sturt Council in Adelaide underwent a process to reduce “negative and unnecessary” signs, describing them as “visual pollution”.

It’s about time we had another clean up.

Maybe then, we could all go back to relying on common sense.