Unpopular Anything Road-Related Opinions

[Scott5114]

Rectangular white route markers should be banned, as they look too much like speed limit signs. States currently using them (IL, IN, TX, MA, etc.) should be forced to either use a different marker, use a different color scheme (like green/white), or use the circular route marker.

[webny99]

Rectangular white route markers should be banned, as they look too much like speed limit signs. States currently using them (IL, IN, TX, MA, etc.) should be forced to either use a different marker, use a different color scheme (like green/white), or use the circular route marker.

I wonder what a poll of this would find. I agree, personally.

[hotdogPi]

Rectangular white route markers should be banned, as they look too much like speed limit signs. States currently using them (IL, IN, TX, MA, etc.) should be forced to either use a different marker, use a different color scheme (like green/white), or use the circular route marker.

I wonder what a poll of this would find. I agree, personally.

Massachusetts at least skips 45, 50, 55, and 65. 60 and 70 are used, though. (40 on 40 is reasonable.)

[Roadgeekteen]

Rectangular white route markers should be banned, as they look too much like speed limit signs. States currently using them (IL, IN, TX, MA, etc.) should be forced to either use a different marker, use a different color scheme (like green/white), or use the circular route marker.

I've never confused a state route sign for a speed limit sign.

[kphoger]

Rectangular white route markers should be banned, as they look too much like speed limit signs. States currently using them (IL, IN, TX, MA, etc.) should be forced to either use a different marker, use a different color scheme (like green/white), or use the circular route marker.

I've never confused a state route sign for a speed limit sign.

I've certainly had to do a double-take when they're mounted on the same post and both numbers begin with the same digit.

[Roadgeekteen]

Rectangular white route markers should be banned, as they look too much like speed limit signs. States currently using them (IL, IN, TX, MA, etc.) should be forced to either use a different marker, use a different color scheme (like green/white), or use the circular route marker.

I've never confused a state route sign for a speed limit sign.

I've certainly had to do a double-take when they're mounted on the same post and both numbers begin with the same digit.

Now I can see how that can be confusing.

[kphoger]

Rectangular white route markers should be banned, as they look too much like speed limit signs. States currently using them (IL, IN, TX, MA, etc.) should be forced to either use a different marker, use a different color scheme (like green/white), or use the circular route marker.

I've never confused a state route sign for a speed limit sign.

I've certainly had to do a double-take when they're mounted on the same post and both numbers begin with the same digit.

Now I can see how that can be confusing.

It used to be even worse.  They used to be stacked.

[Ned Weasel]

It used to be even worse.  They used to be stacked.

Holy crap! That sign could be easily misinterpreted as "The speed limit is normally 30, but in Illinois it's 34."

[Roadgeekteen]

It used to be even worse.  They used to be stacked.

Holy crap! That sign could be easily misinterpreted as "The speed limit is normally 30, but in Illinois it's 34."

Thankfully 30 and 34 are not that far apart, and 34 is not a real speed limit.

[kphoger]

It used to be even worse.  They used to be stacked.

Holy crap! That sign could be easily misinterpreted as "The speed limit is normally 30, but in Illinois it's 34."

Thankfully 30 and 34 are not that far apart, and 34 is not a real speed limit.

But the point remains.  White square route markers look too much like speed limit signs.  When you glance up at a sign, you should know immediately that it's a speed limit sign or a route shield or whatever.

[Roadgeekteen]

It used to be even worse.  They used to be stacked.

Holy crap! That sign could be easily misinterpreted as "The speed limit is normally 30, but in Illinois it's 34."

Thankfully 30 and 34 are not that far apart, and 34 is not a real speed limit.

But the point remains.  White square route markers look too much like speed limit signs.  When you glance up at a sign, you should know immediately that it's a speed limit sign or a route shield or whatever.

I can tell, especially with the Illinois text and the different shape. Or maybe I just spend to much time looking at speed limit shields.

[kphoger]

Honestly, at first glace, doesn't it kind of look like the speed limit is 50 mph here?  Or here?

[Roadgeekteen]

Honestly, at first glace, doesn't it kind of look like the speed limit is 50 mph here?  Or here?

A little, but that's a bit far from the shield.

[kphoger]

Honestly, at first glace, doesn't it kind of look like the speed limit is 50 mph here?  Or here?

A little, but that's a bit far from the shield.

What do you mean?

[Roadgeekteen]

Honestly, at first glace, doesn't it kind of look like the speed limit is 50 mph here?  Or here?

A little, but that's a bit far from the shield.

What do you mean?

The picture.

[kphoger]

Honestly, at first glace, doesn't it kind of look like the speed limit is 50 mph here?  Or here?

A little, but that's a bit far from the shield.

What do you mean?

The picture.

Which one?

[texaskdog]

If not mentioned already, I think all 2dis should go around cities whenever possible  e.g. on I694 in Saint Paul.  Thru traffic would be encouraged to avoid the more congested city.

[Ned Weasel]

Honestly, at first glace, doesn't it kind of look like the speed limit is 50 mph here?  Or here?

A little, but that's a bit far from the shield.

The point is, when a driver can read the number 50 in black digits on a vertically proportioned sign with two smaller lines of text above it, there's a very good chance the driver will think it's a "SPEED LIMIT 50" sign before he or she can make out the two words above the number.

[ran4sh]

If not mentioned already, I think all 2dis should go around cities whenever possible  e.g. on I694 in Saint Paul.  Thru traffic would be encouraged to avoid the more congested city.

Sometimes the bypass is more congested.

[Scott5114]

Honestly, at first glace, doesn't it kind of look like the speed limit is 50 mph here?  Or here?

A little, but that's a bit far from the shield.

What do you mean?

The picture.

Buddy, I hate to tell you, but cars are often pretty far from signs as you're trying to read them.

The issue is that there's no reason that white square markers need to exist. If you need a shield that says "we have no creativity to come up with something better" we have a sign for that. It's the circle shield.

[kphoger]

Honestly, at first glace, doesn't it kind of look like the speed limit is 50 mph here?  Or here?

A little, but that's a bit far from the shield.

What do you mean?

The picture.

Buddy, I hate to tell you, but cars are often pretty far from signs as you're trying to read them.

The issue is that there's no reason that white square markers need to exist. If you need a shield that says "we have no creativity to come up with something better" we have a sign for that. It's the circle shield.

Has nobody figured out yet that one of my links goes to an IL-50 route shield, and the other goes to an actual 50-mph speed limit sign?      Do they look so similar that I successfully pulled one over on you?

[Scott5114]

Honestly, at first glace, doesn't it kind of look like the speed limit is 50 mph here?  Or here?

A little, but that's a bit far from the shield.

What do you mean?

The picture.

Buddy, I hate to tell you, but cars are often pretty far from signs as you're trying to read them.

The issue is that there's no reason that white square markers need to exist. If you need a shield that says "we have no creativity to come up with something better" we have a sign for that. It's the circle shield.

Has nobody figured out yet that one of my links goes to an IL-50 route shield, and the other goes to an actual 50-mph speed limit sign?      Do they look so similar that I successfully pulled one over on you?

Oh, I noticed, I just didn't say anything since I figured it was a salient rhetorical point.

[Max Rockatansky]

The Business Interstate shield is better looking than the mainline variant. 

[Roadgeekteen]

Interstates should be able to have Service Plazas and be tolled.

Interstate standards should either be relaxed slightly or we should de interstate tons of roads.

[ran4sh]

Do you really need two miles to prepare for an exit?  I think the usual one mile is plenty of time for most exits.  Two miles for the major interchanges with other major highways.

You need 2 miles of advance notice. If the first sign were 1 mile then drivers exiting would have to react as soon as possible when seeing the sign. But with the first sign being 2 miles, some traffic will wait until the 1 mile point before getting into the lane for the exit.

Interstate standards should either be relaxed slightly or we should de interstate tons of roads.

There's another option, which is, the designations should remain but the federal government should incentivize states to upgrade the non-compliant sections by withholding funding for non-compliance.