Humorous Highway Signs to be Banned by 2026, Says U.S. Federal Highway Administration

New guidelines aim for clarity and simplicity in electronic road signs, ending the use of quirky and humorous messages to promote safety.

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has issued new guidelines that will ban the use of humorous or quirky messages on electronic highway signs by 2026. The new rules state that signs should be 'simple, direct, brief, legible and clear' and only used for important information such as warning drivers of crashes, adverse weather conditions, and traffic delays.
States across the U.S. have been known to use humorous or pop culture-referenced messages on electronic signs to catch drivers' attention and promote safety. Examples include 'Use Yah Blinkah' in Massachusetts, 'Visiting in-laws? Slow down, get there late' in Ohio, and 'Don’t drive Star Spangled Hammered' in Pennsylvania.
The Federal Highway Administration argues that these messages can be misunderstood or distracting to drivers. The new guidelines are part of a larger 1,100-page manual released last month, which also includes rules regulating other traffic control devices.
Some states, like Arizona, have held annual contests for the public to submit ideas for these messages. These contests will likely have to be discontinued or significantly altered to comply with the new federal guidelines.
The new rules have been met with some criticism. Arizona Republican state Rep. David Cook questioned why the federal government is trying to control what states can do in their own territory and argued that the federal government should focus on other issues.