Santon’s ‘Dangerous Cat’s Eyes’ Turn Out To Be… Not Cat’s Eyes

Photos: Frank Schuengel

So, in the latest episode of ‘Things the Isle of Man Internet Lost Its Mind Over’, the mysterious ‘cat’s eyes’ that sprouted in the middle of the A5 through Santon have now been confirmed as not, in fact, cat’s eyes.

The man who gets everywhere, Frank Schuengel, posted footage and photos of the strange raised bumps, which quickly sent Facebook into its usual stages of crisis: concern, confusion, conspiracy theories, and probably someone asking if this means TT is cancelled despite it not being on the course.

Many were worried about motorbikes and scooters hitting them, picturing riders being launched into orbit by these tiny metallic gremlins glued to the tarmac. Or just falling off.

And it’s a fair concern. They’re slap bang in the middle of the carriageway.

But swooping in to clear up the drama was none other than DoI Minister Michelle Haywood, who slid into Frank’s comments section like a Minister on a mission.

She explained they’re not cat’s eyes at all, but part of a ‘traffic counting system which is approved for use in the carriageway.’

She added: ‘I appreciate that cautious riders may want to avoid running over them.’

The Minister also thanked the public for collectively tagging her 487 times.

She also thanked the DoI highways officer for beaming the information to her at record speed.

When somebody queried why it was needed and how she didn’t already know it was being carried out on the A5, she explained: ‘The DoI regularly carry out traffic measurements all round the island. We use the data to inform decision making.

‘I’m the Minister – which means I focus on developing policy and strategies, not on operational matters.’

So there you have it: not cat’s eyes, not part of a secret TT training course. Just the DoI quietly counting cars.