Forth Road Bridge toll booths

[paddy_36]

What are the numbers you can see above the toll booths at the Forth Road Bridge? Why do they change? Thought they were maybe traffic/vehicle counters or something, but that doesn't seem to fit. Grateful for any info.

[sddsddean]

Its been about 6 years since I last went over it and I don't remember the numbers you mention. Go to the bridge website and ask them on the 'contact us'. Loads of other info there as well. http://www.feta.gov.uk/

[paddy_36]

Thanks sddsddean and In A Pickle for suggestions. Have emailed through the Feta website so will let you know the response. Wind speed sounds a good guess. I also wondered if it was maybe a code for the type of vehicle passing through the booth at the time, but not sure why that would be on public display. Will hopefully find out soon!

[cassimer]

I travel over the bridge often and never noticed this! Think i am always focussing on picking the best lane, getting money adn trying to drive straight...
Will look out tomorrow and give a suggestion!

[paddy_36]

Cassimer - if you use the bridge regularly we've probably passed each other at some point! I recently moved out of Fife but still work there. And I empathise completely with the find your money/choose your lane scenario. Wacky races! I first noticed the numbers a few years ago, but no-one seemed to know what they meant. I forgot about them altogether until they caught my eye again the other day...

You actually don't see the numbers travelling from south to north over the bridge - the signs are angled so you only see them heading south. I looked at them on my way home  tonight - numbers were changing at different times on different booths from 0 to 2 then back to 0 again. Very peculiar!

[paddy_36]

Hello again, haven't had an answer from Feta yet, but went over the bridge again on Sunday. As it wasn't the usual chaos of rush hour, I decided to ask the guy in the booth what the numbers were. He said it was their vehicle classification system. Never got a chance to ask for more details, but assume it's their code for the type of vehicle passing through the booth at that time. If I find out more I'll let you all know!

[SteveH75]

paddy_36 ... did you ever get an answer from feta (and do you think they'll have to change their name when the new laws about cheese are implemented!?)

I used to use the bridge quite a lot and I never remember seeing them (as mentioned - queue, lane etc ...) - since I saw this question it's been boggling in my mind as to how this works? Why the numbers would be shown to everyone rather than just the guys in the toll booths and how the numbers are calculated!

See what you've done ... you've gotten me thinking! ;o)

S

[paddy_36]

SteveH75 - loved the cheese comment! I haven't heard from Feta yet (some customer care!) but as soon as I do, I'll let you know - sorry for the trouble I've caused!

The numbers are on, I think, alternate booths and are north-east(ish) facing, so you can only see them as you get near the south end of the bridge travelling from the north. My guess is that the display is linked to the till in the booth in some way, so whatever gets rung through is coded to the appropriate vehicle type. Like you, I am wondering why they would want these codes to be visible to the public in the first place. It's all very mysterious...

If I don't get an answer from Feta over the weekend I'm going to take action and hassle whoever's unlucky enough to get my 80p on Monday!

[cassimer]

Heard a nasty rumour... is the toll going up to a pound?..... wouldnt be happy but would solve my problem of what to do with the 10ps - why do i never get 20s?

[paddy_36]

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/enterprise/tobr-04.asp

This page is part of a report containing a proposal to increase charges to �1...

cassimer - your point about never getting 20p pieces as change is spot on!