- The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), part of the Department of Transportation, prohibits references to humor and pop culture in messages
- The FHWA states that such silly signals can be distracting and should be aimed solely at providing information
- FHWA’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices emphasizes avoiding signs with obscure meanings or humor; states now have two years to comply
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has chosen to bypass sense of humor and will instead implement a ban on quirky, funny or pop culture references on road signs.
New guidelines from the FHWA suggest it’s time to put an end to any funny business when it comes to road safety messages that could distract motorists.
“Gestures should avoid language that uses pop culture references or humor,” the guidance says.
The hard-hitting approach to comedy aims to ensure that drivers can concentrate fully on driving, rather than being distracted by something deemed non-essential – even if a joke is used to make an important point to clarify.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, suddenly has a bypass when it comes to a sense of humor. Signs like these Ohio Department of Transportation highway signs will be a thing of the past by 2026
The FHWA states that such silly signals can be distracting and should be aimed solely at providing information
The signs are sometimes the equivalent of bad dad jokes – this one refers to Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon’s Vacation
This move by the DOT to remove humor from traffic signs has been in the works for a few years.
A draft of the upcoming update to the FHWA’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices was issued in 2021 and raised concerns that signs with obscure or secondary meaning, which are intended to be humorous, should not be used.
An example given in the guidelines suggests replacing a humorous sign like Massachusetts’s famous “Use Yah Blinkah” with a simpler message like “UNSPAINED SEAT BELTS FINE + POINTS.”
The point of the guideline seems to be to prioritize functional clarity over creative expression.
“Messages with obscure or secondary meanings, such as those containing references to popular culture, unconventional sign legend syntax, or that are intended to be humorous, should not be used,” the humorless guidance said.
Some states have argued that humorous signs are both entertaining and memorable.
A few years ago, the Ohio Department of Transportation released “Life is frag-gee-lay, drive safe,” a nod to “A Christmas Story,” the 1983 film shot in Cleveland.
In 2022, New Jersey posted ‘Slow down, this isn’t bullshit.’
During the holidays, Arizona wrote, “Use headlights like Rudolph uses his red nose.”
An example given in the guidelines suggests replacing a humorous sign like Massachusetts’ famous “Use Yah Blinkah” with a simpler message like “UNBUCKLED SEAT BELTS FINE + POINTS.”
Utah DOT signs amuse drivers – these require lane discipline
In 2022, New Jersey posted ‘Slow down, this isn’t bullshit.’
This sign from the Arizona DOT reminds drivers to use their lights while conveying holiday cheer
The FHWA suggests that signs with pop culture references can be confusing to those who don’t understand them, diverting “mental energy from driving.”
A 2020 Virginia DOT indicated that such signs attract the most cognitive attention compared to generic safety signs.
But it refutes the argument that what matters is the memorability of these signs.
Signs with pop culture references can be confusing to those who don’t understand them because they “draw mental energy away from driving.”
States have now been given a two-year timeline to implement all of the changes outlined in the 2024 edition of the manual.