Don’t Laugh and Drive: U.S. Cracks Down on Funny Highway Warnings
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.”
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.”
...In recent years, drivers across the country have chuckled (or groaned) at the humorous safety messages that have popped up on America’s highways. In Massachusetts, there was the inevitable play on the Boston accent: “Changing lanes? Use Yah Blinkah.”
Iowa’s Department of Transportation tried out: “Texting & Driving? Oh Cell No!”
New Jersey paid tribute to Bruce Springsteen, warning drivers: “Slow Down. This Ain’t Thunder Road.”
...One sign that drew widespread attention in Mississippi referred to the lyrics of the hit Taylor Swift song “Anti-Hero”: “Texting and Driving? Say It: I’m the Problem. 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.”
...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..."
But federal officials say some of the attempts at humor have gone too far and could be distracting or misunderstood.
In the latest edition of the federal standards for highway signs... 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...
Sigh... Seems to me we need all the humor we can get these days.Iowa’s Department of Transportation tried out: “Texting & Driving? Oh Cell No!”
New Jersey paid tribute to Bruce Springsteen, warning drivers: “Slow Down. This Ain’t Thunder Road.”
...One sign that drew widespread attention in Mississippi referred to the lyrics of the hit Taylor Swift song “Anti-Hero”: “Texting and Driving? Say It: I’m the Problem. 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.”
...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..."
But federal officials say some of the attempts at humor have gone too far and could be distracting or misunderstood.
In the latest edition of the federal standards for highway signs... 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...
