Most absurd VMS messages

[myosh_tino]

After today's false alarm in Hawaii:

Given the current circumstances, I don't think this is an "absurd" message.

[MNHighwayMan]

Given the current circumstances, I don't think this is an "absurd" message.

Taken out of context though, it definitely fits.

[kphoger]

After today's false alarm in Hawaii:

That's what they WANT you to think!  They really just hacked in to trick people right before sending the missiles.

[MNHighwayMan]

After today's false alarm in Hawaii:

That's what they WANT you to think!  They really just hacked in to trick people right before sending the missiles.

Your comment does make me question how secure these systems are, and just how plausible that scenario might actually be.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

MnDOT today:

Duck, Duck, Buckle Up

[wanderer2575]

A new one debuted this past week on metro Detroit VMSs:

BROKEN RIDE?
GET TO THE SIDE
STAY BELTED INSIDE

[zzyzx]

Seen in downtown Austin...



If you identify as neither, is buckling up optional?? 

[Pink Jazz]

Today's safety message from ADOT:

DRIVE SAFELY
XOXO
ADOT

[TBKS1]

A friend of mine who lives in Denver took this picture today and sent it to me (via Discord)

[GaryV]

I saw 2 of them on I-75 south of Flint this weekend

Mackinac Bridge
       Closed
  Expect Delays


(was the last line really necessary?)


The bridge was closed because of ice falling from the towers and cables.

[briantroutman]

Noticed this a few days ago on a VMS on I-95 just before the PA/DE border:

SAVE WARP SPEED
FOR CAPT KIRK

   SPEED LIMIT
          55

[Flint1979]

I saw 2 of them on I-75 south of Flint this weekend

Mackinac Bridge
       Closed
  Expect Delays


(was the last line really necessary?)


The bridge was closed because of ice falling from the towers and cables.

I saw that one too.

[GaryV]

MDOT was trying poetry again yesterday on I-696.  See if I can remember it correctly - something like

     BROKEN RIDE?
  MOVE TO THE SIDE
STAY BUCKLED INSIDE

[wanderer2575]

More brilliance from MDOT, and another reason I find its VMS messages to be next to useless.  Currently displayed on I-696:

TRAVEL TIME TO
M-10 7 MI 50 MIN
I-275 16 MI 55 MIN

This is located before a weekend pavement repair project that has the road down to one lane; hence the long travel time.  That's not what I'm pointing out.  Note the distance and travel times between the two exits shown -- nine miles in five minutes.  That would be 108 mph. 

[hotdogPi]

More brilliance from MDOT, and another reason I find its VMS messages to be next to useless.  Currently displayed on I-696:

TRAVEL TIME TO
M-10 7 MI 50 MIN
I-275 16 MI 55 MIN

This is located before a weekend pavement repair project that has the road down to one lane; hence the long travel time.  That's not what I'm pointing out.  Note the distance and travel times between the two exits shown -- nine miles in five minutes.  That would be 108 mph.

Maybe it rounds everything to the nearest 5 minutes if it's above a certain number.

[wanderer2575]

More brilliance from MDOT, and another reason I find its VMS messages to be next to useless.  Currently displayed on I-696:

TRAVEL TIME TO
M-10 7 MI 50 MIN
I-275 16 MI 55 MIN

This is located before a weekend pavement repair project that has the road down to one lane; hence the long travel time.  That's not what I'm pointing out.  Note the distance and travel times between the two exits shown -- nine miles in five minutes.  That would be 108 mph.

Maybe it rounds everything to the nearest 5 minutes if it's above a certain number.

They don't round; I often see 47 MIN or 62 MIN in rush hours and bad weather.  It's more likely an idiot intern who's trying to count on his fingers and failing.  As another example, there is another VMS six miles farther along and it often shows a LONGER travel time to I-275 (ten miles distant at that point) than the first VMS at 16 miles distant shows.

[busman_49]

Ohio had this going over the weekend (or something close to it):

TURN SIGNALS:
THE ORIGINAL
INSTANT MESSAGE

[Max Rockatansky]

Central California had this one on freeways over the weekend:

"Watch for people walking on all roadways."

I thought it might have something to do with the city of Fresno cracking down on Jaywalking until I saw the same message on CA 99 in Bakersfield yesterday. 

[myosh_tino]

Central California had this one on freeways over the weekend:

"Watch for people walking on all roadways."

I thought it might have something to do with the city of Fresno cracking down on Jaywalking until I saw the same message on CA 99 in Bakersfield yesterday.

That message was plastered all over the Bay Area freeways this past weekend too.  While pedestrians are forbidden on the freeways, I guess it could be argued that drivers need to be aware of work crews (Caltrans or volunteers).

[Max Rockatansky]

Central California had this one on freeways over the weekend:

"Watch for people walking on all roadways."

I thought it might have something to do with the city of Fresno cracking down on Jaywalking until I saw the same message on CA 99 in Bakersfield yesterday.

That message was plastered all over the Bay Area freeways this past weekend too.  While pedestrians are forbidden on the freeways, I guess it could be argued that drivers need to be aware of work crews (Caltrans or volunteers).

It makes me think something happened somewhere for that message to be displayed state wide.  That or it was just a slow weekend following all those snow storms in the Sierras.

[SidS1045]

After the nor'easter in the Boston area on Wednesday (3/7), MassDOT put this on their VMS's:

DON'T
CROWD
THE PLOW

Problem is, we had sideways snow during that storm, which ended up obscuring the top line of the message on some of those signs...and rendering the message as exactly the opposite of what was intended.

[Big John]

Slow down, or we'll call your mother: http://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/slow-down-or-well-call-your-mother/1026925657

[roadman]

Seen on I-295 in Rhode Island yesterday:

Buckle Up /Wear A Seat Belt With Your Bonnet

[jflick99]

I saw these on I-29 near St. Joseph a couple weeks ago on my way to the Sweet 16 games in Omaha.

Buckle-ology
Picking Safety
To Win

Brackets Bust
Seatbelts Won't
Buckle Up

[Michael]

I saw this last night on Imgur:


It was also posted on Reddit.