Tough people? Feds End ‘Fun’ Highway Signs to Prioritize Safety

The feds are not laughing…

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is cracking down on “humorous” digital signs that have made drivers smile across the United States.

The days of an Ohio highway telling drivers to “slow down” to arrive late to their in-laws’ house or a New Jersey highway advising Halloween fans to “Hocus Pocus, drive focused” will soon be behind us. .

In December, the FHWA released its latest manual for highway managers nationwide, warning that messages should be “simple, direct, brief, readable and clear.”

Do you think the above examples fit your needs?

Well, not the FHWA, which recommended that signs with “secondary meanings,” such as pop culture references that are “intended to be humorous,” should be removed because there is a slim chance that they “require more time to process and understand.” ”.

Massachusetts will no longer be able to warn drivers to “use yah flashah” and Arizonans will no longer see “just a sign asking the driver to use the turn signals,” among the many other fun signs that appear along the interstates .

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is cracking down on “humorous” digital signs that have made drivers smile across the United States. AP In December, the FHWA released its latest manual for highway managers nationwide, warning that messages should be “simple, direct, brief, readable and clear.” Ohio Department of Transportation/Facebook

“FHWA believes these are important considerations so as not to diminish respect for the sign when used in other traffic-related scenarios for regulatory, warning, and guidance purposes under prevailing conditions,” the manual reads.

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“The safety of all road users is the priority,” a spokesperson told Axios. “States are expected to exercise good judgment in how and when they use changeable message signs for traffic safety messages, and in the specific wording of the messages.”

But don’t be sad yet! The government agency is giving state transportation departments two years to take their victory laps and tell their best jokes before the rule fully takes effect.

The crackdown is not the first time the government has had enough of the states’ outlandish posters.

The FHWA also recommended that signs with “secondary meanings,” such as pop culture references that “are intended to be humorous,” should be removed because there is a remote possibility that they “require more time to process and understand.” AP No need to stress about it yet! The government agency is giving state transportation departments two years to take their victory laps and tell their best jokes before the rule fully takes effect. Ohio Department of Transportation/Facebook

New Jersey found itself in the FHWA’s crosshairs in 2022, when the agency quickly banned signs such as: “Hold on to your butt, help prevent wildfires,” “Get your head out of your apps,” and “We’ll be frank.” . Don’t drive high”, among others.

“The FHWA has directed us to stop posting these creative safety messages,” a spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Transportation said at the time.

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Source: vtt.edu.vn

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