Speaking Volumes

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APRIL 12, 2010

Sign Assault

Ever feel assaulted by road signs? The following and more were all within a 5 mile ride on a Pennsylvania limited access highway. These did not include bill boards, or the various universal warning, regulatory, speed and directional signs! Too, too much. Do you agree?

Emergency Stopping Only
   Brake Retards Prohibited
      Heavy Merge Alert
         Be Prepared to Stop
             Road Work Begins
                 Bump
                     Motor Vehicles Only
Watch for Stopped Vehicles
   Road Work Ends
      Targeted Enforcement Area
          Don’t Tailgate
              Yield
                  Do Not Pass
                      You Can’t Afford It –DUI
Left Lane Must Turn Left
   Right Lane Must Turn Right
       Wait for Green
            Buckle Up It’s the Law
                Be Alert Heavy Tuck Traffic
                    School Bus Crossing
                        Pass With Care
Left Turns and Cross Traffic
   Maintain Safe Distance Between Vehicles
      Watch for Turns
          Fog Area
             Bridge May Be Icy
                  Right Lane Ends
                      Left Lane Merge
Slow Down Save A Life

And as always a few books for you to consider...

Route 66 : the mother road / Michael Wallis.

Traffic : why we drive the way we do (and what it says about us) / Tom
Vanderbilt.

Signspotting III : lost and loster in translation / compiled by Doug Lansky.

Add a comment (2 comments)

posted by CarolK

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Comments

Megan Q. said, on Apr. 12 at 9:21AM
Talk about distracted driving! How are you supposed to keep your eyes on the road when you have to do that much reading!?!

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Mercedes said, on Apr. 13 at 3:50PM
I'm pretty sure I know the area you are talking about and if its not the same one, then Penn has two! The one I'm thinking of is a divided two-lane highway and the extreme signage is compounded by the fact that the road just feels narrow - one side has a natural barrier of a hill and the other drops off into the city. Driving through there always feels extra-distracting, extra- congested, and extra-nerve-wracking. I can't help but wonder if the signs are really worth it.