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Government tsar calls for ban of 'outdated' triangle road signs depicting 'elderly people' Government tsar calls for ban of 'damaging' triangle road signs depicting 'elderly people'
(about 1 hour later)
The traditional elderly crossing sign deters employers from recruiting jobseekers over the age of 50, the government tsar for the elderly claimed. The traditional elderly crossing sign perpetuates a "damaging stereotype" that deters employers from recruiting jobseekers over the age of 50, the government tsar for the elderly claimed.
Pensions expert and campaigner Dr Ros Altmann called for the sign to be banned from use after 33 years as she said it perpetuates stereotypes of older people. Pensions expert and campaigner Dr Ros Altmann called for the sign to be banned from use after being displayed on British roads for 33 years as she said it assists in continuing a false perception of older people.
She hopes to bring the issue to the women and equalities minister Jo Swinson at a meeting next month to discuss the impact of the signs, which are meant to warn drivers of less-mobile pedestrians, and potentially get them taken down and changed. She hopes to bring the issue to the women and equalities minister Jo Swinson at a meeting next month to discuss the impact of the signs, which are meant to warn drivers of less-mobile pedestrians, and to potentially get them taken down.
She will also unveil proposals to encourage internships, or "returnships", for those looking for a career change at the age of 50 and over at a meeting with firms including Centrica, Legal & General and Barclays. Dr Altmann said: "I think we do not need a sign to warn people of older people. It is redundant.
She is reported by The Sunday Times to have said: "It is not always the case that chronological age means anything for your physical or mental abilities. It may do, it may not do." "I don't think they are serving any useful purpose and they are damaging."
"Employers do not automatically assume it is worth training older people," she added. She added that, while she agrees that signs should warn that children or animals may run into the road, drivers do not need a sign stating that elderly people may be walking nearby.
http://t.co/FEZTPUyyLQ @SUndaytimes front page - ban 'elderly' road signs which feed into outdated stereotypes of older ppl Dr Altmann will also unveil proposals to encourage internships, or "returnships", for those looking for a career change at the age of 50 and over at a meeting on Tuesday with firms including Centrica, Legal & General and Barclays.
The image of two silhouettes walking with stooped backs and a stick was a winning entry in a children's competition held in 1981 and the sign used to be accompanied by another saying 'elderly people' below it but they have been removed since 2003. "There is almost a subliminal message that older people are in some way physically or mentally sub-par. However, as there are more and more elderly people seeking work and I do not want to see their skills and talents go to waste. I want them to be taken seriously," she added.
The road sign image of two silhouettes walking with stooped backs and a stick was a winning entry in a children's competition held in 1981 and the sign used to be accompanied by another saying 'elderly people' below it but the latter have been removed since 2003.
Campaigns by Age Concern and Help the Aged charities are reported to have failed to get the sign design changed in 2008 after they argued that it does not accurately depict the varying physical capabilities of older people.Campaigns by Age Concern and Help the Aged charities are reported to have failed to get the sign design changed in 2008 after they argued that it does not accurately depict the varying physical capabilities of older people.
However, Cumbria Tourism enlisted the help of a local artist who replaced 10 signs with a silhouette of a couple walking up an incline with straighter backs and hiking poles in 2009.However, Cumbria Tourism enlisted the help of a local artist who replaced 10 signs with a silhouette of a couple walking up an incline with straighter backs and hiking poles in 2009.
Artist Steve Messam said to the BBC: "Life doesn't stop at a certain age and there are a lot of active visitors regularly climbing and walking here that are a world away from the image of the elderly people depicted on the existing road sign."Artist Steve Messam said to the BBC: "Life doesn't stop at a certain age and there are a lot of active visitors regularly climbing and walking here that are a world away from the image of the elderly people depicted on the existing road sign."