That is happening with the local country road mending signs. They say road closed a mile away from where the activity is going on, when there are junctions and houses in between. They are often left over the weekend and at night when the roads are perfectly clear...not surprising people start to ignore them.
As far as the shooting in progress signs go... a sign with a place to write "today" and the date and the times might make them more relevant to most perhaps.
It`s called `Arse covering`. If you drive around Road Closed sign and you collapse your suspension on some raised iron then it`s your fault as you were pre warned.
However, if you move the signs or barrier which were right across the road and drive through then you have committed a criminal offence and that can end in a prison sentence.
Some roads although technically closed have to remain open for residents to get to their homes not just because someone wants to drive to the shop on the other side of the village.
In your case Alan .. as the works are continually moving it is impossible to keep everyone happy as regards side roads, houses etc but ask a resident if they want a nice new road surface or still drive in the potholes they soon are happy to put up with a few days discomfort.
We have a case going on were a BMW driver moved a road closed sign and barrier, drove through and floored his motor into some logs in the road. One of the tree cutters noticed the chap had a dash cam which the police now have, in effect he filmed his own illegal activity, absolutely no doubt he will go down for it.
That said, even though I work on the roads road works can be your biggest nightmare and I do sympathise with you.