What are some rare road signs that are still out in the field that they don't make anymore? I'm referring to signs that have since been replaced by a new design or simply are completely obsolete. A few simple examples are "Stop/Yield Ahead" signs, where stop and yield are spelled out. These have largely been replaced with symbols. A sign that I think is generally rare are flood gauge signs. What are some other examples? (with pictures/street view if possible)
I think they still post some new STOP AHEAD signs with the text instead of symbols. Or at least they did very recently.
One obsolete sign is the yellow diamond SLOW sign. I remember a lot of these, but I think they mostly stopped these a long time ago because the sign didn't specify just how slow, or why.
Square route (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_root) shields in New Hampshire. They switched from squares to the Old Man of the Mountain decades ago.
(Note: The link is a pun. It has nothing to do with the content of my post.)
Also, do they still post DO NOT PASS and PASS WITH CARE signs? It seems like these have been pretty much usurped by the NO PASSING ZONE pennants.
Quote from: bandit957 on July 12, 2016, 07:12:33 PM
Also, do they still post DO NOT PASS and PASS WITH CARE signs? It seems like these have been pretty much usurped by the NO PASSING ZONE pennants.
I've seen pass with care in michigan only. Do not pass is rare.
Quote from: bandit957 on July 12, 2016, 07:12:33 PM
Also, do they still post DO NOT PASS and PASS WITH CARE signs? It seems like these have been pretty much usurped by the NO PASSING ZONE pennants.
In my neck of the woods, yes. NO PASSING ZONE is somewhat rare here and instead DO NOT PASS and PASS WITH CARE are more common.
Stop Ahead signs are all over Alabama, in both text and pictorial formats. I see both NO PASSING ZONE and DO NOT PASS very commonly here as well. The latter is what Huntsville uses with the former being what ALDOT uses.
another rare sign is a night speed limit sign.
JCT signs in Ontario. They're not as common anymore.
Quote from: silverback1065 on July 12, 2016, 09:08:37 PM
another rare sign is a night speed limit sign.
https://goo.gl/maps/zvnU4g3s5ds
Look closely at the shield.
Saw this once in a subdivision in Indio CA. No idea if it's still there.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FKc7seOn.jpg&hash=1741be2d6ad96427004ee5958b37b7178c17c274)
Quote from: silverback1065 on July 12, 2016, 09:08:37 PM
another rare sign is a night speed limit sign.
There's a handful in Collier (https://www.google.com/maps/@25.9155285,-81.361564,3a,75y,28.75h,84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shwSsHKww5EPwKN0shQKXEg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) and Lee counties (https://www.google.com/maps/@26.4539669,-81.7039931,3a,74.4y,345.36h,86.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTFElIqpp-3uwfccbY3M9KQ!2e0!7i3328!8i1664) in Florida; they seem to only be used on two-lane roads with narrow shoulders.
"Slippery When Wet" signs? I know of one at an airport, but they've been replaced with the "unstable burnout" diagram (http://images.roadtrafficsigns.com/img/lg/X/slippery-wet-car-sign-x-w8-5.png).
FRESH OIL seems rare to me--still on the books, last one I saw was in Indiana a few years ago when they were doing a chip-seal type resurfacing of US 24 near Logansport. One of the FRESH OIL signs was yellow, possibly old enough to predate orange construction signs (since they are rarely used, they don't wear out fast, and an old yellow one could still be kicking around--it looked old, not a new yellow mistake sign).
I believe worded STOP AHEAD may still be on the books because of the possibility of the stop being around a curve, with the symbol sign having an upward arrow. NH overcame that with its own combo sign with a curved arrow atop the stop symbol, but I've never seen it elsewhere commonly like it is used in NH. The ramps to US 68 from US 30 near Williamstown, Ohio had worded STOP AHEAD signs installed (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Williamstown,+OH+45897/@40.8280756,-83.656013,3a,66.8y,338.63h,81t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sM26VAFGJFJ7J_kr9PQtpDg!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x883eb44f4d30b113:0x18901f0213baba67) when the new US 30 opened (in 2007; it's not that new anymore but it's new to those of us who used to drive the old road) probably in part for the curvature reason.
Quote from: silverback1065 on July 12, 2016, 09:08:37 PM
another rare sign is a night speed limit sign.
I saw a lot of these throughout Idaho and Montana, actually.
Also, right down the street from me is an old schoolyard with a really old STOP sign, the old design that had white strokes within the octagon.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2F00%2Fs%2FMTE5NVgxNjAw%2Fz%2F9XQAAOSw1l9UlI-A%2F%24_35.JPG&hash=acd429af172e968aaad6d4cf2081be0e022ea6dc)
Quote from: PurdueBill on July 12, 2016, 11:04:01 PM
FRESH OIL seems rare to me--still on the books, last one I saw was in Indiana a few years ago when they were doing a chip-seal type resurfacing of US 24 near Logansport. One of the FRESH OIL signs was yellow, possibly old enough to predate orange construction signs (since they are rarely used, they don't wear out fast, and an old yellow one could still be kicking around--it looked old, not a new yellow mistake sign).
I think I only remember seeing a FRESH OIL sign once ever - about 35 years ago.
Quote from: bandit957 on July 12, 2016, 07:12:33 PM
Also, do they still post DO NOT PASS and PASS WITH CARE signs? It seems like these have been pretty much usurped by the NO PASSING ZONE pennants.
The Colonial Parkway has them.
Quote from: bandit957 on July 12, 2016, 07:12:33 PM
Also, do they still post DO NOT PASS and PASS WITH CARE signs? It seems like these have been pretty much usurped by the NO PASSING ZONE pennants.
Arizona still uses all of those, sometimes you'll even see all of them along the same road if you drive long enough.
Quote from: silverback1065 on July 12, 2016, 09:08:37 PM
another rare sign is a night speed limit sign.
I saw one in Colorado along US 550 on a recent trip. It was only effective in the shorter daylight months though.
Quote from: PurdueBill on July 12, 2016, 11:04:01 PM
FRESH OIL seems rare to me--still on the books, last one I saw was in Indiana a few years ago when they were doing a chip-seal type resurfacing of US 24 near Logansport. One of the FRESH OIL signs was yellow, possibly old enough to predate orange construction signs (since they are rarely used, they don't wear out fast, and an old yellow one could still be kicking around--it looked old, not a new yellow mistake sign).
They're quite common here in AZ.
The only time I remember seeing a FRESH OIL sign was once while I was in grade school, and I had no idea what it meant. Were they talking about motor oil or what? And how was it fresh? Did it have an expiration date?
I thought of another one: the yellow square DEAD END STREET signs. I remember a couple of these (embossed) in my town when I was growing up in the 1970s, but they were probably older, perhaps even 1950s. Now they'd just use the standard diamond NO OUTLET.
Quote from: bandit957 on July 13, 2016, 01:27:08 AM
The only time I remember seeing a FRESH OIL sign was once while I was in grade school, and I had no idea what it meant. Were they talking about motor oil or what? And how was it fresh? Did it have an expiration date?
I've seen FRESH OIL signs whenever there are chip seal projects or crack sealing. Basically oil is applied to the roadway and covered with pea gravel, or fresh tar is filling the cracks. Around my area, tissue paper has been applied to the fresh tar lately to prevent it from sticking to vehicles when it's still fresh. It makes a huge mess with lots of oil and tar being sprayed on the roadway and that is why the signs are posted.
I was going to mention the "DO NOT PASS"/"PASS WITH CARE" in Arizona.
California has "DO NOT PASS" signs but is missing the corresponding more positive reinforcement.
Night speed limits are very, very common in Texas. Just maybe 5 years ago, I was pulled over on US 90 near Sanderson for going 75 in a 75 day/65 night zone (I left with no ticket). The most ridiculous is I-10/I-20, which has an 80 day and 65 night limit.
Quote from: coatimundi on July 13, 2016, 03:41:19 AM
I was going to mention the "DO NOT PASS"/"PASS WITH CARE" in Arizona.
California has "DO NOT PASS" signs but is missing the corresponding more positive reinforcement.
Night speed limits are very, very common in Texas. Just maybe 5 years ago, I was pulled over on US 90 near Sanderson for going 75 in a 75 day/65 night zone (I left with no ticket). The most ridiculous is I-10/I-20, which has an 80 day and 65 night limit.
That's about the time - 2011, IIRC - Texas finally did away with the night speed limits.
I remember in the late '80s when the government allowed states to raise the rural Interstate speed limit to 65 MPH, Ohio began using a very weird and detailed speed limit sign on rural Interstates. Aren't these signs pretty much gone now?
PASS WITH CARE
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7133/27290053783_1f2f962005_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HzwEdF)Pass with care on US-209 SB. Hurley, NY. (https://flic.kr/p/HzwEdF)
DEAD END Street
(https://c5.staticflickr.com/2/1454/25667805900_6c85dfbb0d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/F7bdrA)1950s DEAD END sign. Naugatuck, CT. (https://flic.kr/p/F7bdrA)
and a RIGHT TURN AHEAD
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5821/22934488839_8596d02863_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/AWDfvn)How old is this? Mass Ave. Boston, MA. Button copy that used to be black letters on a white background. Newer letters are white. (https://flic.kr/p/AWDfvn)
I've seen a few yellow diamond HOSPITAL signs here and there in the Richmond, VA area, but not really anywhere else.
Quote from: bandit957 on July 13, 2016, 11:52:01 AM
I remember in the late '80s when the government allowed states to raise the rural Interstate speed limit to 65 MPH, Ohio began using a very weird and detailed speed limit sign on rural Interstates. Aren't these signs pretty much gone now?
Yes since the split speed limit for trucks is gone. I don't believe I have seen any with a big "70" plastered over them.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8809/28236094381_d01742b596_k_d.jpg)
Saw this sign for the first time the other day
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on July 13, 2016, 04:14:16 PM
I've seen a few yellow diamond HOSPITAL signs here and there in the Richmond, VA area, but not really anywhere else.
The VA here in Wichita, just blocks from my house, has these signs that aren't all that old, relatively speaking.
https://goo.gl/maps/9mshELFRw8w (https://goo.gl/maps/9mshELFRw8w)
Saw these about 8 months ago in Missouri:
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/1/713/22790013607_7043cbb877_k.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5834/23182661025_a4e5196e39_k.jpg)
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/1/717/22787573407_7cad78d247_k.jpg)
Quote from: TravelingBethelite on July 16, 2016, 09:40:12 AM
Saw these about 8 months ago in Missouri:
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/1/717/22787573407_7cad78d247_k.jpg)
Yeah, I've hardly ever seen this one as a text-based sign. Almost always pictorial.
"School Bus Stop Ahead" has largely been replaced with the new Pictogram Signs.
The left-side pennant for passing zones have largely been phased out, in Washington. They recently started posting the large white "No Passing"/"Pass With Care" signs over the last 6 months or so.
In some small towns in the mid-west I have seen old yellow Stop signs.
Quote from: TEG24601 on July 16, 2016, 10:48:57 AM
"School Bus Stop Ahead" has largely been replaced with the new Pictogram Signs.
The left-side pennant for passing zones have largely been phased out, in Washington. They recently started posting the large white "No Passing"/"Pass With Care" signs over the last 6 months or so.
In some small towns in the mid-west I have seen old yellow Stop signs.
In my neck of the woods, I've never seen a pictorial school bus stop sign, and yellow left-side no passing pennants are ubiquitous.
Quote from: kphoger on July 16, 2016, 10:03:15 AM
Quote from: TravelingBethelite on July 16, 2016, 09:40:12 AM
Saw these about 8 months ago in Missouri:
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/1/717/22787573407_7cad78d247_k.jpg)
Yeah, I've hardly ever seen this one as a text-based sign. Almost always pictorial.
Those are all over the place in Wisconsin. There is a pretty big Amish population here.
I'm driven through Amish areas in Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Kansas, but nearly all the warning signs I've seen have been pictorial rather than text-based.
Quote from: kphoger on July 16, 2016, 12:32:27 PM
I'm driven through Amish areas in Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Kansas, but nearly all the warning signs I've seen have been pictorial rather than text-based.
Same here in Ontario. This is the typical sign you'll see for horse and buggies
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FMVd9Ewl.png&hash=98f2f0dcdca34125292e95ebc21f8b1cc13073c1)
Quote from: GCrites80s on July 13, 2016, 09:29:06 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on July 13, 2016, 11:52:01 AM
I remember in the late '80s when the government allowed states to raise the rural Interstate speed limit to 65 MPH, Ohio began using a very weird and detailed speed limit sign on rural Interstates. Aren't these signs pretty much gone now?
Yes since the split speed limit for trucks is gone. I don't believe I have seen any with a big "70" plastered over them.
If it's the two-row signs, there are still some out there with the 70 pasted over the 65 (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1496033,-81.7885656,3a,45.3y,55.84h,84.65t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sZaEhSE2wr0V_4uI6iXxLLw!2e0). Note that practice varied widely on what to do with the bottom row--some signs got the bottom part lopped off as shown in the link, some had it pasted over with a white panel. Practice when doing a wholesale sign replacement has been to replace such signs with conventional speed limit signs, so these remnants may not last forever--except for the ones that are forgotten.
Driving around in rural Minnesota this past week, while on MN 56 going south towards Austin, as I was approaching one of the towns on MN 56, rather than the now standard yellow diamond sign with the arrow on top and the reduced speed in the center, they had a 3 shield setup with the top shield saying "BEGIN", the middle shield the reduced speed limit, and the bottom shield "1/5 MILE". I believe years ago, that was the standard in Minnesota, but I didn't see very much of that this week in the MN portion of my travels. I was rather surprised to see that, but I don't remember which town it was.
I'd consider the "Eisenhower Interstate System" sign to be rare, since it's only supposed to be posted at entrances from rest stops, and even then not all states post it.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8806/27744163013_9ce80368b3_k_d.jpg)
First time I saw this. Posted because of new stop signs placed at an intersection that was a 2-way stop converted to a 4 way stop.
The priority road sign is very common across Europe, but it is as rare as it gets in Spain.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F7%2F73%2FSpain_traffic_signal_r3.svg%2F200px-Spain_traffic_signal_r3.svg.png&hash=83524b67faa9bd7753f62b1eed92a231950706ba)
In fact I know of only one sign of this kind in the whole of Aragon: This one (https://www.google.es/maps/@41.4980965,-0.1427882,3a,66.8y,288.19h,88.22t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sRbofcuQWhkkjx3r6TmNqRQ!2e0). There are a few others in Spain (I remember seeing a couple in Guipuscoa province).
Quote from: djsekani on July 12, 2016, 09:56:35 PM
Saw this once in a subdivision in Indio CA. No idea if it's still there.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FKc7seOn.jpg&hash=1741be2d6ad96427004ee5958b37b7178c17c274)
SPEED LIMIT 5 1/2? Now
that's bizarre!
I have no pictures, but sometimes when I'm visiting Los Angeles, I've detoured around the Palos Verdes Peninsula on my way from the San Fernando Valley to Orange County. The south shore of this peninsula is unstable in spots and there is a short stretch of Palos Verdes Drive that is signed something like "CONSTANT EARTH MOVEMENT NEXT 0.8 MILES" or some such. This short stretch of road is always having to be patched and repaved because of the earth slippage (any sort of rain frequently brings landslides which close the road completely of course) and driving it, even at the 25 or 30 mph speed limit is like driving on the old-fashioned "whoop-de-doos" or "thank-you-Ma'ams" on highways of a bygone era.
Perhaps one of my fellow road fans in southern California (Quillz or someone) can drive along Palos Verdes Drive and post pictures of these signs.
I don't know about you, but when I'm driving, I don't want my earth to move! :no:
Quote from: DandyDan on July 17, 2016, 02:29:59 AM
Driving around in rural Minnesota this past week, while on MN 56 going south towards Austin, as I was approaching one of the towns on MN 56, rather than the now standard yellow diamond sign with the arrow on top and the reduced speed in the center, they had a 3 shield setup with the top shield saying "BEGIN", the middle shield the reduced speed limit, and the bottom shield "1/5 MILE". I believe years ago, that was the standard in Minnesota, but I didn't see very much of that this week in the MN portion of my travels. I was rather surprised to see that, but I don't remember which town it was.
I've seen that quite a bit in Minnesota.
Quote from: silverback1065 on July 12, 2016, 07:23:57 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on July 12, 2016, 07:12:33 PM
Also, do they still post DO NOT PASS and PASS WITH CARE signs? It seems like these have been pretty much usurped by the NO PASSING ZONE pennants.
I've seen pass with care in michigan only. Do not pass is rare.
MDOT actually uses all three. The pennant on the left with DO NOT PASS on the right, and then at the end of the no passing zone, PASS WITH CARE. It comes in very handy in the winter when the road may not be plowed to pavement.
Will and LaSalle Counties in Illinois use PASS WITH CARE signs at every opportunity they get. Textual "stop ahead" signs are also widespread across rural roads in Illinois.
Quote from: hm insulators on July 21, 2016, 02:18:00 PM
I have no pictures, but sometimes when I'm visiting Los Angeles, I've detoured around the Palos Verdes Peninsula on my way from the San Fernando Valley to Orange County. The south shore of this peninsula is unstable in spots and there is a short stretch of Palos Verdes Drive that is signed something like "CONSTANT EARTH MOVEMENT NEXT 0.8 MILES" or some such. This short stretch of road is always having to be patched and repaved because of the earth slippage (any sort of rain frequently brings landslides which close the road completely of course) and driving it, even at the 25 or 30 mph speed limit is like driving on the old-fashioned "whoop-de-doos" or "thank-you-Ma'ams" on highways of a bygone era.
Perhaps one of my fellow road fans in southern California (Quillz or someone) can drive along Palos Verdes Drive and post pictures of these signs.
I don't know about you, but when I'm driving, I don't want my earth to move! :no:
No kidding! (https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1469262517783!6m8!1m7!1s7pEEY2sYheqmYX1BPnvQjg!2m2!1d33.73846674989917!2d-118.3577980487281!3f325.15584108121544!4f-12.291115724006431!5f0.7820865974627469) That's a very disconcerting sign to see.
The only other sign that comes close is the one on NM 159 towards Mogollon that reads "NIGHT TRAVEL DISCOURAGED". This on a remote, narrow, windy mountain road leading through the wilderness with mountain lions, wolves, and bears to what's essentially a ghost town in a narrow canyon pockmarked with abandoned mineshafts. What could possibly go wrong?
Quote from: Ga293 on July 23, 2016, 04:54:19 AM
No kidding! (http://"https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1469262517783!6m8!1m7!1s7pEEY2sYheqmYX1BPnvQjg!2m2!1d33.73846674989917!2d-118.3577980487281!3f325.15584108121544!4f-12.291115724006431!5f0.7820865974627469")
I think you need to check that link.
I've seen "PASS WITH CARE" signs in Louisiana before, but only in work zones, never as a regular sign. Usually they're placed when there's no permanent centerline.
Quote from: freebrickproductions on July 24, 2016, 03:01:22 PM
Quote from: Ga293 on July 23, 2016, 04:54:19 AM
No kidding! (https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1469262517783!6m8!1m7!1s7pEEY2sYheqmYX1BPnvQjg!2m2!1d33.73846674989917!2d-118.3577980487281!3f325.15584108121544!4f-12.291115724006431!5f0.7820865974627469)
I think you need to check that link.
How's that? :)
Quote from: PurdueBill on July 16, 2016, 07:12:22 PM
Quote from: GCrites80s on July 13, 2016, 09:29:06 PM
Yes since the split speed limit for trucks is gone. I don't believe I have seen any with a big "70" plastered over them.
If it's the two-row signs, there are still some out there with the 70 pasted over the 65 (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1496033,-81.7885656,3a,45.3y,55.84h,84.65t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sZaEhSE2wr0V_4uI6iXxLLw!2e0). Note that practice varied widely on what to do with the bottom row--some signs got the bottom part lopped off as shown in the link, some had it pasted over with a white panel. Practice when doing a wholesale sign replacement has been to replace such signs with conventional speed limit signs, so these remnants may not last forever--except for the ones that are forgotten.
I think it varied by district. D8 (Lebanon/Cincinnati) blanked out the bottom row (I remember ODOT putting out a press release at the time calling this an innovative cost saving measure or something bombastic like that). D7 (Sidney/Dayton) took the opportunity to install all new speed limit signs (some of which they had to patch over when the speed limit went to 70 between Troy and Vandalia a year later).
Not sure if this is rare or just a one-time-only deal (I don't remember seeing this anywhere in the MUTCD)
but here's a weird jagged-turn sign for a state highway. The oddball is the bottom panel.
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8417/27905429043_0ca0df7f06_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JvUBQX)
2016-07-24_02-30-41 (https://flic.kr/p/JvUBQX) by Paul Drives (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138603251@N02/), on Flickr
Arkansas has the same thing
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7123/7734676776_4b2dc45f74_z_d.jpg)
Quote from: US71 on July 24, 2016, 08:54:02 PM
Quote from: freebrickproductions on July 24, 2016, 03:01:22 PM
Quote from: Ga293 on July 23, 2016, 04:54:19 AM
No kidding! (https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1469262517783!6m8!1m7!1s7pEEY2sYheqmYX1BPnvQjg!2m2!1d33.73846674989917!2d-118.3577980487281!3f325.15584108121544!4f-12.291115724006431!5f0.7820865974627469)
I think you need to check that link.
How's that? :)
Still broken.
Just returns this:
QuoteThe Google Maps Embed API must be used in an iframe.
Quote from: freebrickproductions on July 25, 2016, 10:32:02 PM
Quote from: US71 on July 24, 2016, 08:54:02 PM
Quote from: freebrickproductions on July 24, 2016, 03:01:22 PM
Quote from: Ga293 on July 23, 2016, 04:54:19 AM
No kidding! (https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1469262517783!6m8!1m7!1s7pEEY2sYheqmYX1BPnvQjg!2m2!1d33.73846674989917!2d-118.3577980487281!3f325.15584108121544!4f-12.291115724006431!5f0.7820865974627469)
I think you need to check that link.
How's that? :)
Still broken.
Just returns this:
QuoteThe Google Maps Embed API must be used in an iframe.
Odd.