US Federal Highway Administration Bans Humorous Signs

New guidelines require highway signs to be 'simple, direct, brief, legible, and clear'; states given until 2026 to comply.

The US Federal Highway Administration has issued new guidelines banning humorous and pop-culture references on electronic highway signs, stating they can be distracting and confusing to drivers.
States have been given until 2026 to implement the changes and remove any existing signs that do not comply with the new rules.
The new guidelines stipulate that signs should be 'simple, direct, brief, legible, and clear' and should primarily convey critical information about traffic and weather conditions.
States like Arizona, which holds an annual competition for creative traffic safety messages, will have to discontinue such practices.
Messages like 'Use Yah Blinkah' in Massachusetts and 'Hands on the wheel, not your meal' in Arizona will be removed under the new guidelines.