Feds are banning humorous electronic messages on highways

[Stevicus]

No joke: Feds discourage humorous electronic messages on highways

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has given states two years to implement the changes.

apnews.com

Administration officials said overhead electronic signs with obscure meanings, references to pop culture or those intended to be funny will be banned in 2026 because they can be misunderstood or distracting to drivers.

Among those that will be disappearing are messages such as “Use Yah Blinkah” in Massachusetts; “Visiting in-laws? Slow down, get there late,” from Ohio; “Don’t drive Star Spangled Hammered,” from Pennsylvania; “Hocus pocus, drive with focus” from New Jersey; and “Hands on the wheel, not your meal” from Arizona.

“Why are you trying to have the federal government come in and tell us what we can do in our own state? Prime example that the federal government is not focusing on what they need to be.”

I've seen these signs, and I can't say they're all that distractive. Not as much as some of the billboards and other roadside distractions. What difference does it make how funny they are? Are boring messages less of a distraction?

Do these electronic message signs bother you? If you could put the messages on there to send a message to your fellow drivers, what would you put?

 

[JustGeorge]

I think they're worrying about the wrong things...

 

[Eddi]

Driving safely is literally a matter of life and death

Humour about that is I think inappropriate for road signage

 

[Twilight Hue]

No joke: Feds discourage humorous electronic messages on highways

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has given states two years to implement the changes.

apnews.com

I've seen these signs, and I can't say they're all that distractive. Not as much as some of the billboards and other roadside distractions. What difference does it make how funny they are? Are boring messages less of a distraction?

Do these electronic message signs bother you? If you could put the messages on there to send a message to your fellow drivers, what would you put?

Another nail in the coffin of freedom by these people.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Another nail in the coffin of freedom by these people.

I mostly disagree with banning them as long as the basic message is there, but this doesn't really take any citizen's freedom away. I think it may be less helpful given the humorous messages are easier to pay attention to, but no one's freedom is impacted in any meaningful way.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Sometimes bureaucrats take their jobs too seriously. I can see how it might be a problem for the hard of thinking. But for many a light hearted suggestion to buckle up will work better than a stern warning.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I mostly disagree with banning them as long as the basic message is there, but this doesn't really take any citizen's freedom away. I think it may be less helpful given the humorous messages are easier to pay attention to, but no one's freedom is impacted in any meaningful way.

Maybe not directly but it is a stepping stone.

Of course just look at the man responsible and yes he's a Democrat.

I expect a lot of signs now using the word "obey" and "you will comply".

The People's Republic of New York has a ton of those.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Maybe not directly but it is a stepping stone.

Of course just look at the man responsible and yes he's a Democrat.

I expect a lot of signs now using the word "obey" and "you will comply".

The People's Republic of New York has a ton of those.

It is pretty rare, but we do agree here. But don't think that Republicans are any better. They can still be shown to be far worse due to their immoral stance on abortion.

 

[Quintessence]

For added context - since I'm not sure everyone is actually reading the article - the regulation is about these kinds of signs on highways:

The purpose of these signs is to inform drivers about immediate road conditions, traffic flow, and stuff like that. The communication needs to be clear, concise, and simple. It's not the space for flippancy and getting cute. Otherwise, it conditions drivers akin to the boy who cried wolf and they fail to serve their intended purpose - as an alert system that citizens should pay attention to in order to be safe on the road.

 

[VoidCat]

Im not a driver but dont y'all drivers make split second decisions? Wouldn't longer messages on any sign by the road or above it take up time from yall watching the road? If so shorter signs are best.

 

[VoidCat]

Let me go read the article now

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

As our societies (here and everywhere) become more and more multicultural, it pays to remember that what might seem humorous to someone from one linguistic or cultural background might be untranslatable and confusing to another. On highways, especially, where speeds can sometimes be close to excessive, I think it might pay to be succinct and clear -- which probably means avoiding jargon, "inside" jokes, and so forth. Yes, I know that sounds like the nanny-state, but when you consider what's at stake, perhaps it's worth a thought.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Sometimes bureaucrats take their jobs too seriously. I can see how it might be a problem for the hard of thinking. But for many a light hearted suggestion to buckle up will work better than a stern warning.

Canada has a lot of passive humorous signs especially along the QEW the 401 , 403 , all around the GTA.

I would think people react more favorably toward those rather then dystopian type "you will comply" and "you will Obey" type signs.

 

[VoidCat]

From article

The agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, said signs should be “simple, direct, brief, legible and clear” and only be used for important information such as warning drivers of crashes ahead, adverse weather conditions and traffic delays. Seatbelt reminders and warnings about the dangers of speeding or driving impaired are also allowed

Yeah thats what I was thinking. Signs needing to be simple and brief so you dont take your eyes off the road for too long

 

[Quintessence]

Im not a driver but dont y'all drivers make split second decisions? Wouldn't longer messages on any sign by the road or above it take up time from yall watching the road? If so shorter signs are best.

Yes - which is one of the reasons why this regulation makes sense.

You also only really see these signs in large metropolitan areas with heavy traffic flow - when I was in the Chicagoland area the main thing they ran on them was ETAs for destinations given traffic flow and announcements about accidents so you could reroute and avoid compounding the problem. They'd put cute stuff on them during off-times, and yeah, it was kinda fun and amusing. But I can totally understand why they are getting rid of it.

 

[VoidCat]

Yes - which is one of the reasons why this regulation makes sense.

You also only really see these signs in large metropolitan areas with heavy traffic flow - when I was in the Chicagoland area the main thing they ran on them was ETAs for destinations given traffic flow and announcements about accidents so you could reroute and avoid compounding the problem. They'd put cute stuff on them during off-times, and yeah, it was kinda fun and amusing. But I can totally understand why they are getting rid of it.

Yeah I dont see the fuss. Makes perfect sense to me in regards to safety why they are doing it.

 

[Stevicus]

For added context - since I'm not sure everyone is actually reading the article - the regulation is about these kinds of signs on highways:

The purpose of these signs is to inform drivers about immediate road conditions, traffic flow, and stuff like that. The communication needs to be clear, concise, and simple. It's not the space for flippancy and getting cute. Otherwise, it conditions drivers akin to the boy who cried wolf and they fail to serve their intended purpose - as an alert system that citizens should pay attention to in order to be safe on the road.

It would be interesting to know if there's any actual data or information about whether these signs have ever been a contributory factor in an accident. I have never heard of any accidents caused by these signs, nor does there appear to be any problem with other signs and landmarks along the side of the road which might be distracting to drivers. Some auto dealerships along freeways can have these big bright electronic signs and other colorful decorations.

On the other hand, a quick message saying something like "drive hammered, get nailed" is short and to the point - and it's not something that drivers have to spend a lot of time dwelling on.

 

[Quintessence]

It would be interesting to know if there's any actual data or information about whether these signs have ever been a contributory factor in an accident. I have never heard of any accidents caused by these signs, nor does there appear to be any problem with other signs and landmarks along the side of the road which might be distracting to drivers. Some auto dealerships along freeways can have these big bright electronic signs and other colorful decorations.

Oh, I'd wager those are a problem too, but the ability to regulate them is more limited. The federal government has the authority to regulate how it goes about its own traffic signage. It does not - without an act of congress - have the authority to regulate other signage, right?

I remember back when the town I grew up in got its first distracting electronic sign on a major roadway? They saw an uptick in accidents on that road afterwards. Unfortunately, the aidsvertisement billboard stayed and the people just accepted more accidents.

 

[Revoltingest]

No joke: Feds discourage humorous electronic messages on highways

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has given states two years to implement the changes.

apnews.com

I've seen these signs, and I can't say they're all that distractive. Not as much as some of the billboards and other roadside distractions. What difference does it make how funny they are? Are boring messages less of a distraction?

Do these electronic message signs bother you? If you could put the messages on there to send a message to your fellow drivers, what would you put?

If you have the time to read the humorous messages,
then distraction might not be a problem. But when I
drive, I often find that traffic, road conditions, lane
changes, GPS messages, exits, & entrances can require
a great deal of concentration at times.
So I'm OK with eliminating superfluous messages.
It might not make much difference. But neither
does it do any good.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Hmmm....I can't recall ever reading a humorous message on any of the signs I've seen...not even quirky...perhaps it's not really a problem in Illannoying?