Cut the Comedy: Humorous Highway Signs Draw Ire of Feds

New rules may nix funny messages on U.S. highways, but states are still free to yuk it up in the name of safety.

Andy Stonehouse | 

Jul 10, 2024 | 2 min read

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Many states have been programming electronic safety signs with humorous messages as a creative way to get drivers to pay more attention to the road.

While the best funny signs can be memorable and make for great social media posts, the federal government considers safety no laughing matter. Early in 2024, the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) issued a recommendation that states eliminate funny safety messages.

Dynamic Message Signs Make Roadway Comedy

The advent of digital dynamic message signs on U.S. roadways was designed to provide easily updatable messages about everything from the dangers of driving under the influence to the importance of obeying the speed limits. Over the past decade, these signs created an opportunity for state transportation departments to get creative with their messaging.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation was a particularly enthusiastic creator of messages such as "Camp in the woods, not in the left lane" and "That's the temperature, not the speed limit." Other states have followed suit and have frequently mixed their safety messages with humor.

Messages such as "Use Yah Blinkah," a play on the Boston accent, displayed in Massachusetts, and Ohio's holiday-themed "Visiting in-laws? Slow down, get there late" have tickled drivers' funny bones while nudging them to travel safely. Other states have integrated Star Wars quotes and other pop references into their reminders.

The FHA's War on Humor

Entertaining as the signs may be, they've recently drawn the ire of the FHA, which is now discouraging those humorous or offbeat messages on the grounds that they could confuse drivers or create a distraction.

The new guidance, contained in an 1,100-page manual on traffic control devices, goes into effect in 2026. It does not ban those messages outright but suggests states think twice when using potentially obscure meanings, pop culture references or slang in safety messages. They should instead be "simple, direct, brief, legible and clear."

States Can Display Their Senses of Humor Independent of the FHA

The upcoming federal guidance is not a national mandate. States can still choose electronic messages they see appropriate. Officials from Arizona and Texas were particularly vocal in opposition to cutting the comedy.

In Wisconsin, a state Department of Transportation committee meets monthly to craft new messages and says it will continue to offer specialty messages, though the types of content may change a bit in light of the new federal guidance. Their revised state guidelines will likely tone down pop culture references, but still aim to provide a bit of levity for drivers.

Andy Stonehouse

Andy Stonehouse literally fell into the world of auto writing while working as a ski-town journalist, and has not looked back since. A childhood spent dealing with the eccentricities of a 1976 MG Midget has made any subsequent auto experience a more safe and reliable drive. He has been blessed with nearby mountain trails and snowy roads in Colorado to do TV-adventure-styled test drives on a weekly basis.