Most absurd VMS messages

[Max Rockatansky]

Just when you thought MassDOT couldn't outdo themselves with irrelevant (to the driving task) CMS messages.  Spotted last night on I-93 south, on the CMS boards south of Dascomb Road and at Route 129:

REPLACE SMOKE      TEST MONTHLY
DETECTORS             CHECK BATTERY
EVERY 10 YEARS

Wouldn't that be because it's for fire prevention month?

[kphoger]

Just when you thought MassDOT couldn't outdo themselves with irrelevant (to the driving task) CMS messages.  Spotted last night on I-93 south, on the CMS boards south of Dascomb Road and at Route 129:

REPLACE SMOKE      TEST MONTHLY
DETECTORS             CHECK BATTERY
EVERY 10 YEARS

Wouldn't that be because it's for prevention month?

It could be hot dog appreciation month, but I don't want hot dog messages on VMSes.

[roadman]

Just when you thought MassDOT couldn't outdo themselves with irrelevant (to the driving task) CMS messages.  Spotted last night on I-93 south, on the CMS boards south of Dascomb Road and at Route 129:

REPLACE SMOKE      TEST MONTHLY
DETECTORS             CHECK BATTERY
EVERY 10 YEARS

Wouldn't that be because it's for fire prevention month?

That's the type of thing that the requirement to flash PSAs on digital billboards is intended to cover.  They shouldn't be cluttering highway signs with non-highway messages.

[hotdogPi]

This hasn't happened yet, but I could imagine this (on a 3x15 display):


GAME2|CUBS    0
TOP 3|INDIANS 0
MAN ON 1ST 1OUT


With live updates!

[theline]

This hasn't happened yet, but I could imagine this (on a 3x15 display):


GAME2|CUBS    0
TOP 3|INDIANS 0
MAN ON 1ST 1OUT


With live updates!

As an Indians fan married to a Cubs fan, I'm hoping your crystal ball sees a week into the future. 

[Pink Jazz]

This hasn't happened yet, but I could imagine this (on a 3x15 display):


GAME2|CUBS    0
TOP 3|INDIANS 0
MAN ON 1ST 1OUT


With live updates!

I see that you formatted it where everything lines up, however, fixed character matrix DMS are going by the wayside, since the industry trend is toward full matrix displays.  Many manufacturers don't even make fixed character matrix signs anymore.  ADOT in 2012 decided to go the full matrix route for this reason, even though they are not currently being used to their full potential such as displaying different fonts and graphics.  As far as I know ADOT uses the same software to program its signs statewide for compatibility reasons, which does not support different fonts or graphics, thus sometimes formatting is a bit imperfect on the full matrix signs due to the use of a font intended for fixed character matrix signs (this is usually more noticeable on the travel times displays around the Phoenix area when they are displayed on a full matrix sign).

[Pink Jazz]

Here is a message that I think could be ideal for this upcoming weekend:

BE A VETERAN
PLEASE BUCKLE UP

[6a]

[Pink Jazz]

Here is ADOT's message of the day:

MASH POTATOES
NOT YOUR HEAD
BUCKLE UP

[Right on Red]

Here is ADOT's message of the day:

MASH POTATOES
NOT YOUR HEAD
BUCKLE UP

(from Reddit)

[wanderer2575]

This message was also on all VMSs on I-75 and I-475 in the Toledo OH area.  I looped through there about 2:00 this morning.

The state DOTs must all subscribe to a newsletter to pick up these gems.

[bzakharin]

The Alantic City Expressway has been showing the following message on VMSs"

WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK
SEAT BELTS ? ? ?

I can see where they're trying to be clever, but to me it is sending the opposite of the intended message. Especially those question marks.

[Max Rockatansky]

This message was also on all VMSs on I-75 and I-475 in the Toledo OH area.  I looped through there about 2:00 this morning.

The state DOTs must all subscribe to a newsletter to pick up these gems.

For whatever that reminds me of that s%##y movie Gigli where Jennifer Lopez said "it's turkey time, gobble, gobble." 

[roadman]

This message was also on all VMSs on I-75 and I-475 in the Toledo OH area.  I looped through there about 2:00 this morning.

This is perhaps the biggest problem with posting "cleverly worded" messages that DOTs fail to recognize - overuse.  When MassDOT introduced the silly (to people who live outside of Boston) "Use Yah Blinka" messages, they appeared on every board in the state almost at the same time.  Kind of cute when you've seen it once or twice.  But just plain annoying when it's still on the eighth or ninth board you've passed under.

[Bruce]

Seen on I-270 in Maryland by a Twitter user:

[hm insulators]

Seen on I-270 in Maryland by a Twitter user:

I love it!

[vtk]

Back in November I was driving to Cincinnati a bit after the time change and a travel time message sign indicated over 200 minutes to I-275. I experienced no delay.

[cl94]

Seen on I-270 in Maryland by a Twitter user:

I love it!

SHA proved it was a fake via Twitter

[Bruce]

Sadly, it was proven fake. But the genuine is still pretty good (Consider Metro):

https://twitter.com/MDSHA/status/822462555679498241

[SidS1045]

They shouldn't be cluttering highway signs with non-highway messages.

If the past is prologue, look for GO PATS or something similar on MA's VMS's as Super Bowl® Sunday approaches.

[Pink Jazz]

This weekend ADOT is doing some Super Bowl themed messages.  Todays message is:

BLOW THE WHISTLE
ON
DISTRACTED DRIVING

There are more coming this weekend.

Note that ADOT also plans a Valentine's Day message as well.  It will be interesting to see what they come up with.

EDIT:

[Pink Jazz]

Here is today's Super Bowl themed message from ADOT:

SPEEDING IS
UNSPORTSMANLIKE
CONDUCT

[slorydn1]

Here is today's Super Bowl themed message from ADOT:

SPEEDING IS
UNSPORTSMANLIKE
CONDUCT

Nah. Speeding is more like a holding penalty or offsides. Drunk driving would be unsportsmanlike conduct, LOL. 

[MikeCL]

Man ADOT has some crafty messages I wished we got half those here..

[Max Rockatansky]

Man ADOT has some crafty messages I wished we got half those here..

Seems like it is newer thing.  I don't remember the VMS signs having anything but the generic messages you'd expect to see during the entire duration of when I lived in Arizona.  They actually probably do a good job grabbing attention because of how silly or corny they get.