All UK football road signs are wrong! Join the petition for geometric change! 

#Brexagon

Breaking news: The UK parliment decied to rename hexagons as "Parker Pentagons"

According to Her Majesty's Government, "The higher level of attention needed to understand the geometry could distract a driver’s view away from the road for longer than necessary which could therefore increase the risk of an incident." Basically, they're saying that having a correct geometrical representation of a football could cause people to crash? I'm sorry, what?

Maybe you could print geometrically correct stickers and stick them over the incorrect sings. I call that mathematical vandalism.

This is what happens when you let graphic designers run amok.

Parker signs

Anyone that has a collision near these signs should claim they were distracted by the impossible geometry of the ball.

First the Parker Square, Now the Parker Sphere

Employing the street sign as a canvas for your text was a brilliant idea!

I'm considering moving across the world to Britain specifically to vote on this petition

Just saw that the Department for Transport DENIED the request: "The Government considers the current football symbol has a clear meaning and is understood by the public. Changing the design to show accurate geometry is not appropriate in this context." Also they completely IGNORE the part about only needing to change it for new road signs where they say "Additionally the public funding required to change every football sign nationally would place an unreasonable financial burden on local authorities. The Department could not justify the spending needed as an exercise to increase public awareness and appreciation of geometry." I wish I could sign this petition. Do your thing, Matt.

They mainly said they wouldn't do it because of the cost, so they cant have picked up on the idea that they only update new traffic signs. Changing the image for future signs would literally just require them to press a few buttons on whatever out of date windows 95 program their using to print the signs, and then our wish would be fulfilled.

Matt, not all other British road signs make sense. Haven't you seen the slippery road signs, which have the left wheels crossing the right wheels?

We should just move the UK to a non-euclidian space. I've heard it's beautiful there.

I always knew there was something wrong but could never put my finger on it.

Government response felt like we were being told off :(

Wow, you're trending. Congratulations!

I'd really like to sign the petition. Unfortunately I'm not a British citizen... Sorry, Matt

The Government ignored the fact the petition didn't ask to change every sign: "The Government considers the current football symbol has a clear meaning and is understood by the public. Changing the design to show accurate geometry is not appropriate in this context. The Department for Transport sets legislation on traffic signs for use by traffic authorities. The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD) sets out the design and conditions of use for traffic signs that may be used on roads in England, Scotland and Wales. Traffic signs use symbols which enable drivers to take in the information quickly and understand the meaning of the sign. Symbols are often internationally recognised which is important for all road users, especially those who may be unfamiliar to the area. In the case of a directional sign to a leisure facility (such as a football ground), the symbols used are a general representation of the activity being depicted. As such, drivers can then quickly understand the type of destination. The football ground symbol first appeared in TSRGD in 1994 and road users have become accustomed to its use. The purpose of traffic signs is to “convey warnings, information, requirements, restrictions or prohibitions” (Section 64 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984). The Department for Transport commissioned research into road user’s understanding of traffic signs in 2011. This concluded that respondents “showed a good basic level of understanding as to what different types of sign meant” and recommended that signs should be kept simple. The purpose of a traffic sign is not to raise public appreciation and awareness of geometry which is better dealt with in other ways. If the correct geometry were put onto a sign, it would only be visible close up and not from the distance at which drivers will see the sign. The detail of the geometry would also not be taken in by most drivers who were merely looking at the sign for direction. The higher level of attention needed to understand the geometry could distract a driver’s view away from the road for longer than necessary which could therefore increase the risk of an incident. Additionally the public funding required to change every football sign nationally would place an unreasonable financial burden on local authorities. The Department could not justify the spending needed as an exercise to increase public awareness and appreciation of geometry. For the reasons given, we will not be changing the football symbol used on a traffic sign. Department for Transport"

most important cause since Brexit

I'm glad you didn't include changing the existing signs in the petition. I've always thought, if you can make something better, and the cost of changing it is negligible, there really is no excuse not to change it. I wouldn't have signed if it took a lot of money/effort to change.

Matt parker: world math police episode 1: Update English balls

What an embarrassment for the UK. I'd sign the shit outa that petition if I lived there, lemmetellya. Or just flee from a country that puts up such an abomination in the first place. I mean, what's next? Triangular roundabout signs?

looks like the UK government doesn't appreciate geometry

This is y brexit is delayed

Some could say it is a parker sign

I like how he made the distinction between our ‘proud’ history in science to our ‘long’ history (of failure) in sport

Got the response from DoT. As expected: "The purpose of a traffic sign is not to raise public appreciation and awareness of geometry which is better dealt with in other ways." and "Additionally the public funding required to change every football sign nationally would place an unreasonable financial burden on local authorities. The Department could not justify the spending needed as an exercise to increase public awareness and appreciation of geometry." I'm pretty sure the petition didn't request a retroactive application, just a more logical symbol in the future. :-/

This is why we love you Matt. Instead of just being happy with it and calling it a Parker Soccer ball, you start a petition.

Am I the only one that would prefer a petition to change the signs to his unrealistic examples? I think that new zoo sign would be much more likely to catch my eye.

I cannot think of a more pedantic cause to back. Hell I'm in. Down with the Dark Hexagin, down with Schedule Twerlve, Part 15, Symbol 38

They just rejected it :(. I found this bit stupid: "The detail of the geometry would also not be taken in by most drivers who were merely looking at the sign for direction. The higher level of attention needed to understand the geometry could distract a driver’s view away from the road for longer than necessary which could therefore increase the risk of an incident."

Fish do not look like the fishing sign. First, the operculum doesn't go across their entire heads, that fish in the picture seems to be decapitated. Secondly, the tail is all wrong. It looks like a whale flipper, not a fish tail. Third, the dorsal and pectoral fins also seem to be modeled more on cetaceans (and/or possibly some sort of elasmobranch ...sharks, chimeras, skates, and rays... which ARE fish but don't look anything like the fish in the picture) So it may not be lovecraftian, but it is a monstrosity from outside of our reality. Actual fish in this universe do not look like that.

This makes me proud of beeing italian considering our football stadium signs www.shoplombardelli.it/8949-large_default/cartello-stadio.jpg

Shell gas station!!!!! Btw great video!

Matt, the ball on the sign is 2d, so clearly we outsourced the signs from flatland.

This is one of those errors that are completely invisible until you know about them. And then they will hurt whenever you see them. ;)

I wouldn't get your hopes up. This would mean that Theresa May would have to do something other than give a speech about how brexit will be hard.

10,000 signatures, pah! Aim for 100,000 signatures and a Parliamentary Debate which would be AMAZING!!!!

Anyone get the email back saying no? So sad :(

I want to sign so bad... But I have no ties to the UK at all...

At first I thought this is so pointless and silly, but after looking at this sign some more, I totally support this. This current ball doesn't even look like football. Too bad I can't sign the petition.

it turns out to be a parker petition

Alternate petition: change all the OTHER signs in the UK. Make castles Escher prints, make fish lovecraftion horrors, make elephants impossible conjoined twins. Just go full-on bonkers with sign design.

This is so pedantic. I love it!

The crenelations on that castle sign are far too big. Even assuming the gate is only sized for 1 person and the crenel was waist height as usual that would leave a good 2/3s of the parapet being pointlessly overhead. Moreover given the crenel there wouldn't be enough space for a floor above that window in the symbol (also why is there a window? that's just terrible design). The fish fins are also oddly positioned, it is possible it's twisting it's body as there's not enough detailing to say otherwise, but it's far from a good sign either.

You sir, are a hero of this country. Someone, give this man a knighthood!

can't believe this made BBC News. This has annoyed me for years, thank you!

This reminds me of vihart's video on sponge bob's pinapple hahaha I love maths! :)

It'd be a shame if someone printed some reflective football likeness stickers and vandalized the signs...

I know! Why don't we waste the government's money on football signs that won't make a difference for identifying football stadiums!

Signed, and posted on FB. You already have 10k. Making it to 100k would be great. I would love to watch parliament discussing Euclidean geometry.

Well, that sign looks like a Parker Sphere.

Maybe the designer of that sign is a member of the Flat Football Society.

THIS HAS BUGGED ME FOR YEARS, and I'm glad you noticed too.

Government has to respond!! 6 months to get another 90k signatures for it to be considered by parliament

That was a real Parker ball of a sign

At the current rate of signatures, the petition should reach 10k by tomorrow :)

The government's response to this was glorious. Unlucky, buddy. I was rooting for the change.

The government have rejected the proposal and in their words ' we will not be changing the football symbol used on a traffic sign.'

Congratulations, looks like you'll pass 10,000 signatures soon!

The fish also doesn't match reality though. On a real bony fish, the gill cover doesn't go all the way around its body.

We've lost the petition.

You're right that since we invented football and applied maths, we should have accurate street signs

germany gets it right: file1.npage.de/005070/38/bilder/freudenberg-schild.jpg as a alternative, try a donut-shaped football, i think you can then keep your hexagons ;)

I'd never noticed this, but signed the petition because I'll never unsee it...

I just discovered this channel and it's the best.

They really ballsed it up! ...and I've signed the petition.

Yesterday I almost hit a stick figure crossing the road.

One dislike from Teresa may

They Replied! As expected nothing is going to change, let's hit 100,000 so it will be considered to debate in Parliament!

Using signs as whiteboards is absouletly brilliant. Nice touch.

I'm afraid I'll have to get the British nationality since I need it to sign. Well, for the sake of geometry, let's do it!

Come on Britain this is your chance to make it right

Hi. I'm an electronics engineer and like maths a lot. So really enjoy your videos. I'm not a UK citizen but I do stand for this petition. So I shared your video on my Twitter channel, FB and sent to some co-workers who are UK citizens. Hope the petition will work. Keep us posted please ...

Boo! The government have responded with "No". They also stated: "Additionally the public funding required to change every football sign nationally would place an unreasonable financial burden on local authorities." Shows that someone didn't actually *read* what was written...

I'd love to go fishing if the signs indicate I can find Cthulhu there.

I'm debating whether to put this video on my physics and maths group chat for school.

I saw the hexagon tiled image on the sign and within the first 5 seconds and knew exactly what this video was about lol

Congrats on the 10k!

But who knows wich shapes are on the other site :)

Just got my email from the government responding to the petition. I am disappointed.

you are - by far - the nerdiest of us all. Thank you!

JUST HIT 10000 SIGNATURES. Well done

Does the guy at 3:46 only have 1 arm?

Sorry can't vote, but your videos are great. Keep up the great work.

Anyone else just get the email saying parliament isn't gonna change anything?

I don't know about the castle, I'll need to hear Shadiversity opinion on that.

Rip, they said no :( Cause it would distract drivers. But we have another chance, just need more people to sign up

I saw this at the show in Warwick on Friday! Hope it gets to 10k

The fact I found this video from trying to make a 3D shape only from hexagons is hilarious

Matt, it has always annoyed me with the car sign 'slippery road'. The way the tires cross over each other. That sign should be changed also.

I'minthe US, but here's a comment to raise your video's profile on RU-vid. Good luck!

To be picky, we can't conclude that the shape is impossible, only that the pattern would not continue across the other side.

This is cool. One of my fave videos of yours was when you discovered different football shapes.

#parkersigns

America: "PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STORMING THE CAPITOL, WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR WE WILL ALL DIE" Britain: "all of our football street signs are incorrect and that makes me somewhat disappointed"

What a load of balls. In a good way. You've got my signature!

I’m coming to your show on Thursday in Norwich !!!

10,000 signatures!