Highways / Signs in Movies, TV Shows, and Videos

[gibranalnn]

Caltrans road sign, San Andreas teaser trailer
I think this is a Caltrans sign because all the scenes were filmed at California. Features gas and food legend signs at the left pole.

[iBallasticwolf2]

Dig the stop sign in this old driver's ed movie:

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_784634-Pontiac-Star-Chief-Custom-Safari-1955.html

Better yet, here's the whole thing.

At 3:19 in the first part of the video you can see a US 91 shield.
Also throughout the video you see a white center line.

Also this was obviosuly filmed in California

[KG909]

0:39
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIgMuaFfCQo

[route17fan]

Okay New York City folks, I seem to remember (vaguely) a movie that featured old style black on white NY City signs - oops, never mind, I found it - Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989) starring Jennifer Jason Leigh - old style sign used for cover art. 

[ARMOURERERIC]

A lot of Pittsburgh's roadways can be seen in the opening sequence of Striking Distance.

Sorry, this is the first time I actually posted to this thread.  As a native Pittsburgher I found the chase scene annoying because of how non linear it was.  Coming out of the Liberty tubes into Troy Hill.  However, the chase scene in Jack Reacher was actually correct and linear and hence enjoyable.

[gibranalnn]

Pixels trailer (perhaps the movie had been released in your area, but the movie isn't released yet in Indonesia where I live). Also, is the shield below the BGS a County Route shield?

[Eth]

That is a Guam route marker (Street View example here). And route 1 does in fact go to Andersen AFB, so bonus accuracy points there.

[gibranalnn]

More roadsigns in Cars


^ This came from the end-credits. Except the I-40 shield and EXIT sign (which is in the pic too,) THE MUTCD DOES NOT REGULATE A BGS LAYOUT LIKE THAT!!!




^ Notice the 25

[theFXexpert]

More roadsigns in Cars


^ This came from the end-credits. Except the I-60 shield and EXIT sign (which is in the pic too,) THE MUTCD DOES NOT REGULATE A BGS LAYOUT LIKE THAT!!!

You mean I-40.

[PurdueBill]

More roadsigns in Cars


^ This came from the end-credits. Except the I-60 shield and EXIT sign (which is in the pic too,) THE MUTCD DOES NOT REGULATE A BGS LAYOUT LIKE THAT!!!

You mean I-40.

It's not so bad--there are downward arrow signs out there like that in real life.  (Bonus points to MassDOT for a gantry mixing MA 213's exit numbers with I-93's exit numbers, fwiw.)  The Cars example still looks a lot better than half of what Oklahoma cooks up.

[gibranalnn]

More roadsigns in Cars


^ This came from the end-credits. Except the I-60 shield and EXIT sign (which is in the pic too,) THE MUTCD DOES NOT REGULATE A BGS LAYOUT LIKE THAT!!!

It's not so bad--there are downward arrow signs out there like that in real life.  (Bonus points to MassDOT for a gantry mixing MA 213's exit numbers with I-93's exit numbers, fwiw.)  The Cars example still looks a lot better than half of what Oklahoma cooks up.

But look! The downward arrows are placed at the side of the control city. This is NOT regulated in the MUTCD afaik.

[PurdueBill]

Massachusetts, like some other states, has had amendments to the MUTCD and it's been Mass style to use those downward arrows, even on pull-throughs.  Anyway, unless the sign is brand-new, it may have been up to spec in a previous MUTCD in the Cars universe.

They still did way better in Cars with attention to detail on signs than many movies have.  The crap lack of detail or outright disregard for being close to reality in many signs in movies is amazing.

[roadman]

(Bonus points to MassDOT for a gantry mixing MA 213's exit numbers with I-93's exit numbers, fwiw.)

That gantry is the result of having the exit ramp from I-93 south to 213 west overlap the exit ramp from 213 east to I-93 south.  It's called trying to compensate for poor roadway design with good signing.

[vtk]

But look! The downward arrows are placed at the side of the control city. This is NOT regulated in the MUTCD afaik.

In Ohio, that would be typical arrow placement for an overhead exit direction sign at a simple one-lane exit with no lane drop.

[SteveG1988]

A classic find.

1967's The Heat Of The Night

Filmed 95% in Illinois due to the fact that the lead actor, Sidney Portier, had a run in with the KKK when in the south with Harry Belafonte, only filming in the south was for a cotton field. And even then in Dyersburg TN he got threats.

They filmed in and around Sparta IL, with the Chester Bridge doubling for the much bigger Helena Bridge. Fictional route AR49 was put onto it. They changed the town name in the movie to Sparta MS, but a fictional one set on the river.so they would not have to change a ton of signs out.

[PurdueBill]

(Bonus points to MassDOT for a gantry mixing MA 213's exit numbers with I-93's exit numbers, fwiw.)

That gantry is the result of having the exit ramp from I-93 south to 213 west overlap the exit ramp from 213 east to I-93 south.  It's called trying to compensate for poor roadway design with good signing.

Indeed. The design there is insane.  I actually love the signs--I wasn't being sarcastic.  It isn't often that you see the exit numbers mixed from two roads, so it's a bonus.

But look! The downward arrows are placed at the side of the control city. This is NOT regulated in the MUTCD afaik.

In Ohio, that would be typical arrow placement for an overhead exit direction sign at a simple one-lane exit with no lane drop.

I think the objection is the downward vs. upward arrow--although I don't see too much problem.  My hazy recollection is that downward arrows might even be allowed on gore signs if they are posted very high above the ramp.

[machias]

As found on an episode of "Wonder Woman" taking place in Pennsylvania.  I think this is suppose to represent the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but it was on the wrong side of the road and the road was only one lane and wasn't paved.

[Rothman]

Just watched Vertigo again.  I'm surprised by how few street signs are in it, although there are a couple of vintage one way signs visible in the movie.

[Brandon]

But look! The downward arrows are placed at the side of the control city. This is NOT regulated in the MUTCD afaik.

Check out some of the older photographs of California signage.  The downward pointing arrow is very common.

[route17fan]

Directions to the BQE? From Bill Murray and Geena Davis in "Quick Change"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSl2WltDz4Q

[noelbotevera]

Directions to the BQE? From Bill Murray and Geena Davis in "Quick Change"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSl2WltDz4Q

Hello there RIDOT signs....

[route17fan]

Directions to the BQE? From Bill Murray and Geena Davis in "Quick Change"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSl2WltDz4Q

Hello there RIDOT signs....

The I-278 shield is a cutout. I have searched this clip over and over and am not seeing the RIDOT connection. 

[SteveG1988]

As found on an episode of "Wonder Woman" taking place in Pennsylvania.  I think this is suppose to represent the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but it was on the wrong side of the road and the road was only one lane and wasn't paved.

I give points on that one to accuracy on there being a 4 lane "interstate" with Penna Route 9, the Northeast Extension. The only clue i would have is they were implying that it was unfinished.


Here's one i found from a 1991 comedy called Delerious, i found the VHS of it at a thrift shop and I was watching what I could have John Candy since I find him hilarious. Soap opera writer ends up in the world he created, and can alter it via his type writer, I don't like soap operas, but the concept is neat. He is leaving NYC and this is the footage we get.

[Rothman]

I'm surprised no one's brought up Adventures in Babysitting (insofar as I can tell).  The flat tire scene near the beginning is supposedly along the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/I-94) and the race home certainly has Chicago BGSes in it (although there is one quick "CGI'd" shot of cars zooming in and out of Chicago -- essentially a made-up location).

[vtk]

This road, which seems to have Ohio on one side and Virginia on the other, appears to allow eastbound passing, but not westbound, as far as can be seen.