Does any 'oldie' remember hearing about or experiencing the 'talking roads' of t

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   frogyfishposted 14 years ago

   Does any 'oldie' remember hearing about or experiencing the 'talking roads' of the mid-forties...
   
   in the mountainous areas of the western USA?
   They were specially ridged areas of the pavement that directed one to drive over that area going a specific speed - and the road would 'talk' instructions or information about speed, curves, hills just ahead.
   I do remember this on family vacations but my younger brother thinks I'm 'silly'.
   Anyone?

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   rweltonposted 14 years ago

   Thank God for asking a question suited for oldies.  I think it is a bit of a stretch to have a talking road, but musical roads exist.
   
   Wikipedia: "A Musical road is a road, or part of a road, which when driven over causes a tactile vibration and audible rumbling transmitted through the wheels into the car body in the form of a musical tune.
   
   Musical roads are known to exist in four countries: Denmark, Japan, South Korea, and the United States of America."
   
   There is a Honda Civic commercial that features a street of road like that.
   
   You aren't "silly" - you are just futuristic....
   rlw

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3. 75

   frogyfishposted 14 years ago

   rwelton, I found out about your 'musical roads' when I searched for information about the 'talking roads' - lots of information!
   But I dern didn't find anything about those 'informative roads'- and I do remember standing
   on the back seat floor listening to what the road would tell us about the next mountainous curve.  My father would tell us when he saw a sign about the upcoming 'road speech' and have us listen to see how much we could understand.
   
   Somebody else HAS to know this besides me.  Help me find 'em!
   And thank you for commenting too.

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   DreamerMegposted 12 years ago

   I just came across this question. I am not quite old enough to remember the mid-forties but would this be something like you were talking about?
   http://www.britishpathe.com/video/talki … query/road
   It shows a British film of the 60's where a car stops beside a tape recorder. The video itself is silent (!).

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      frogyfishposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      DreamerMeg, went to link, but that is not it. 
      The roads actually had grooves to say messages like 'slow' or '50 mph' or 'sharp curve'.  Similar to grooves highways have along their edges  to make noise to awaken sleepy drivers. Thanks for good try!

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      DreamerMegposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The grooves they have nowadays are often called "rumble strips". They are very useful to waken people up. I must see if I can find out any more about your talking roads - it's a very interesting concept.

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   Rochelle Frankposted 12 years ago

   There used to be one near Lancaster California that played the William Tell Overture at 55 mph.
   I think they took it out because the neighbors complained,
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHnCiMJLtJw
   
   I suppose they could get it to talk, if they can make music the same way.

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      frogyfishposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Rochelle Frank your link was delightful...and there are other musical roads there too - Thank you!  But, my remembered roads were informative for road conditions.  At least you proved 'talking roads' did exist!  Thanks for your interesting link.

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