Feds Put an End to Humorous and Witty Highway Sign Messages
Say goodbye to those humorous and witty messages on electronic highway and freeway signs. Officials are banning humorous electronic messages across the country.
The U.S. Federal Highway Administration released its new 1,100-page manual last month. It includes rules that spell out how signs and other traffic control devices are regulated. They have given states two years to implement all the changes outlined in the manual.
Starting in 2026, officials from the administration have announced that overhead electronic signs with weird messages, references to pop culture, or those that try to be funny will be prohibited. They believe these signs can confuse drivers, distract drivers, or lead to misunderstandings.
Goodbye, weird messages and pop culture references on highways and freeways electronic signs.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s agency wants signs to be easily understood. They should be simple, short, and clear. These signs are meant for important stuff like warnings about crashes, bad weather, and traffic delays. They’re also okay with reminders to wear seatbelts and warnings about the risks of speeding or driving under the influence.
In various states, humorous signs have been used on highways and freeways. The Associated Press has reported that among the messages destined to vanish are quips like “Use Yah Blinkah” in Massachusetts (2014), “Visiting in-laws? Slow down, get there late” from Ohio (2018), “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.
The outlet also notes that Arizona has over 300 electronic signs above its highways. For the last seven years, the state Department of Transportation has held a contest to find the funniest and most creative messages.
Open to anyone for submissions, the contest drew over 3,700 entries last year. The winning entries were “Seatbelts always pass a vibe check” and “I’m just a sign asking drivers to use turn signals,” as reported by The Associated Press.
Roadside Frustrations: 8 Most Annoying Habits Of Other Drivers
You’re cruising down the road, wind in your hair, and the stereo cranked up to your favorite song. Life couldn’t be better, right? Well, hold on, because here come those annoying drivers determined to ruin your joyride. From the oblivious ones who think turn signals are optional, to the speedsters weaving through traffic like they’re in a Fast and Furious movie. There’s no shortage of infuriating things they do. It’s like they have a secret handbook on how to push our buttons.
You’ve probably dealt with tons of annoying drivers over the years. While the list of annoying drivers could go on, there are eight examples that stand out as the worst of the worst. The next time you find yourself near an annoying driver, take a deep breath, and remember that patience is a virtue.
Is it the person or the car brand?
Does the car’s brand make a driver more annoying? A 2021 survey conducted by Moneybarn in the United Kingdom found that BMW owners were widely regarded as the most disliked drivers on the road, with nearly 40 percent of respondents identifying them as the worst and most prone to causing accidents. Audi came in a distant second at 14 percent.
In the United States, Insurify, a car insurance comparison website, released a report on the Rudest Drivers in 2021. To compile the data, their team analyzed over four million applications, where applicants disclosed their car make and model and any driving violations over the past seven years. The results showed that in 2020, BMW drivers were considered the rudest. In 2021, it was Kia Stinger drivers who took the top spot. Audi A4 Allroad drivers ranked as the second rudest, followed by BMW 4-Series drivers.
Ultimately, it is the driver, not the brand of the car, that determines their behavior on the road. While these findings may suggest certain trends, it would be unfair to make blanket assumptions about all drivers of a particular car brand.
Annoying drivers can really test our patience, but it’s important to stay cool and drive responsibly. Remember, we’re all just trying to get from point A to point B in one piece.
Here are 8 seriously annoying things that other drivers do on the road.
Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.
She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.
A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community.
She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.