With all the new and alleged improvements the MUTCD is making I'm surprised this doesn't get added.
On an expressway when you see a "THIS LANE ENDS" sign and there is no drop down arrow. Granted, we could all figure out which lane is ending, but if you have a drop down arrow, it would make it that much easier.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=old+lyme,+ct&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=27.504711,56.162109&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Old+Lyme,+New+London,+Connecticut&ll=41.372123,-72.199112&spn=0,0.006856&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.372194,-72.199007&panoid=w3JFzbFQuTE37BvjTFZs2g&cbp=12,228.38,,0,-6.76
If they are making states add on the tenth of a mile ot mile-markers or making states use the "one arrow per lane" rule (which is awful b/c it doesnt' take into account option lanes), why can't they add drop down arrows to LANE ENDS signs?!?!?
Most signs I see have space for an arrow anyway.
The MUTCD has no standard provision for an overhead "lane ends" sign, which is probably why there is no uniformity on having a down arrow on the signs. I would agree that using a message of "Lane Ends [xx distance]" would be better supported with the down arrow. However, a different choice such as "Thru Traffic Merge Left" (as is done on WB I-80 near US 395 in Reno, NV) doesn't necessarily need an arrow.
BTW: The Intermediate Reference Location signs (aka "tenth-mile milemarkers) are not required in the MUTCD. They are an option that can be used to supplement the integer mileposts.
I have even seen "LANE ENDS" signs with a diagonal up arrow.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Oklahoma+City,+OK&aq=0&sll=41.372194,-72.199007&sspn=0.004879,0.011362&g=Old+Lyme,+New+London,+Connecticut&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Oklahoma+City,+Oklahoma&ll=35.460268,-97.597067&spn=0.004754,0.022724&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=35.460258,-97.597201&panoid=LhVuKN7mWDdSQ4iAsR-KdA&cbp=12,274.47,,0,-5.8
^^^
And, it's white text on green not black on yellow.
The signage doesn't bother me nearly as much as idiots who know the lane is going to end try to speed around other cars. This is especially true with road construction lane closures.
worse than THIS LANE ENDS is the provision for both "RIGHT LANE ENDS" and "LANE ENDS MERGE RIGHT" signs, which are exactly opposite in meaning, but at quick reading are indistinguishable. Plucking out the key words, one gets "RIGHT" each time - so is the right lane the one in jeopardy, or the one that I should be escaping to?
Then there's this:
(CT 9SB Exit 25, New Britain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=new+britain,+ct&aq=&sll=41.372194,-72.199007&sspn=0.005233,0.011362&g=Old+Lyme,+New+London,+Connecticut&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=New+Britain,+Hartford,+Connecticut&ll=41.65801,-72.773039&spn=0.000651,0.001931&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=41.65801,-72.773039&panoid=rC53fHGtG4Xshnzj8Iqu7w&cbp=12,156.13,,0,-4.88
Quote from: shadyjay on April 13, 2011, 09:33:07 PM
Then there's this:
(CT 9SB Exit 25, New Britain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=new+britain,+ct&aq=&sll=41.372194,-72.199007&sspn=0.005233,0.011362&g=Old+Lyme,+New+London,+Connecticut&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=New+Britain,+Hartford,+Connecticut&ll=41.65801,-72.773039&spn=0.000651,0.001931&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=41.65801,-72.773039&panoid=rC53fHGtG4Xshnzj8Iqu7w&cbp=12,156.13,,0,-4.88
My point exactly! Perfect case for a drop down arrow. There is even space for it on the sign!
Ohio does it right, and consistently:
RIGHT LANE ENDS
MERGE LEFT
Or vice versa