Don’t Laugh and Drive: U.S. Cracks Down on Funny Highway Warnings

3 years ago by silence7 to c/usa

Federal officials want states to “use good judgment” and avoid humorous highway signs that may confuse or distract drivers. State officials say witty signs “break through the noise.”
brightandshinyobject 35 points 3 years ago

Cool, now do billboards

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VelvetStorm 23 points 3 years ago

Or do head lights. I'm so God dam tired of not being able to see and getting headaches from other drivers bright as fuck lights.

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fsr1967 4 points 3 years ago

And the super bright disco LED flashers that all the emergency (etc) vehicles have now. I've gotten migraines from them. What was wrong with the old lights that didn't stab your brain through your eye sockets?

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LaunchesKayaks 7 points 3 years ago

I hate the emergency disco lights. I have epilepsy and the lights fuck with me. I don't go into seizures when exposed to the lights because of my meds, but I do I get raging migraines from them.

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Window_Error_Noises 5 points 3 years ago

I feel you, my epilepsy friend. I'm so sorry you deal with that! I have photosensitive seizures along with my others, and those mofos aren't well controlled yet (workin' on it with treatment trials), and it helps to wear my ultra-filtered polarized, darkened lenses when out at night, especially, but it's still the shittiest gamble, if I won't just be suddenly noping out mid-sentence in the car (my spouse does any driving, I obviously can not, haha). Still the damn stabbing pain, though, jesus christ.

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x4740N 17 points 3 years ago

the united states, experts on doom and gloom

Also so right wingers don't twist my comment, FUCK TRUMP

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XeroxCool 9 points 3 years ago

The signs are definitely more engaging and something that comes up in normal conversation when someone has the latest one, but I don't actually expect them to make a difference. Maybe they'll remind a driver to check their current speed or attitude, but I can't see these changing people

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LemmyKnowsBest 4 points 3 years ago

More likely they contribute to distracted driving than improving anyone's driving habits.

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sugar_in_your_tea 4 points 3 years ago

I really doubt that. If they can't handle reading one short sentence where their eyes should be anyway, how would they read them when there's an emergency?

I don't think the messages improve driving, but I do think they're a good reminder to keep eyes on the road instead of looking down/around. And it gets people talking about safety, which is a good thing.

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autotldr 6 points 3 years ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


In the latest edition of the federal standards for highway signs, published in December, officials warned that messages “with obscure or secondary meanings, such as those with popular culture references” or those that are “intended to be humorous,” should not be used.

The federal guidance, reported by The Wall Street Journal, was a blow to state officials who have had fun moonlighting as comedy writers in an attempt to grab the attention of drivers.

Paul Katool, a spokesman for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, is part of a group of employees who bat around ideas every month for funny highway signs, riffing on movies, pop music and upcoming holidays.

It’s Me.” Another popular one, Mr. Katool said, referred to the “Star Wars” television show “The Mandalorian,” declaring: “Baby Yoda Uses the Force But Still Needs a Car Seat.”

“By even having this discussion, MaineDOT believes the signs are meeting the purpose of promoting safety,” Paul Merrill, a spokesman for the department, said in a statement on Wednesday.

New Jersey has a tradition of using humorous signs like: “We’ll be blunt, don’t drive high,” and “Get your head out of your apps.” However, the state has been warned by federal officials that such messages can be distracting.


The original article contains 792 words, the summary contains 206 words. Saved 74%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

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ChemicalPilgrim 5 points 3 years ago

Good thing there's nothing else that needs to be addressed. We've got everything else squared away so they have time to focus on this.

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Mikey_donuts 3 points 3 years ago

They conducted a study on this. A study!

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library_napper 1 point 3 years ago

Site doesn't load without JavaScript

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