Puerto Rico statehood and its effects on roads

[Brandon]

I have heard that PR - were it to become a state - would be asked to be bilingual.  At the present time, there's a lot of English here and there, but the vast majority of Puerto Ricans are not proficient in English.  If (and it's a big if) PR attains statehood, I'd imagine that bilingual signage would be gradually phased in.

I think bilingual signage would be the way to go.   I personally have no problem with Puerto Rico having Spanish as the de facto primary language, though I think English should be at least offered to all students in its public schools.

So most of the signs should be in Spanish and English, with the possible exception of STOP signs, which should just read STOP.   

Why not allow the continued use of PARE? It gets a bit chauvanistic to question the use of Spanish regulatory signs in a region that is predominantly Spanish-speaking to this day.  The shape and color make it unambiguous to English-only speakers.

Presumably because the Vienna Convention uses STOP regardless of language; every sign in Europe says STOP, even in France, Italy, etc...

However, the US (and consequently Puerto Rico) is not a signatory to the Vienna Convention.  STOP signs in the Americas tend to use the native language i.e. ARRET, ALTO, etc.

[StogieGuy7]

However, the US (and consequently Puerto Rico) is not a signatory to the Vienna Convention.  STOP signs in the Americas tend to use the native language i.e. ARRET, ALTO, etc.

Absolutely correct!  Spanish-speaking islands in the Caribbean and almost all of South America (except Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana) use "PARE".  Mexico and Central America use "ALTO".   

If Puerto Rico were to become a state (an interesting prospect), I suppose it's possible that they would be forced to transition to bilingual or even English STOP signs.  Federal highway funding is usually tied to the maintenance of standards.  But, an exception could be permitted too. 

Hard to guess on this one.

[jwolfer]

I have heard that PR - were it to become a state - would be asked to be bilingual.  At the present time, there's a lot of English here and there, but the vast majority of Puerto Ricans are not proficient in English.  If (and it's a big if) PR attains statehood, I'd imagine that bilingual signage would be gradually phased in.

I think bilingual signage would be the way to go.   I personally have no problem with Puerto Rico having Spanish as the de facto primary language, though I think English should be at least offered to all students in its public schools.

English should be **REQUIRED** to be taught in Puerto Rican schools whether it becomes a state or not.  English should be taught from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade, and in colleges.  Americans need to be proficient in English just for practicality's sake.

I have friends from PR.  English is a required subject at least where they went to school.  I would imagine its like French being required in Canada... not too many in Alberta are proficient in French.

To get some road stuff in here.. Most signs are pretty easy to figure out even if you dont know the language especially with symbols

[national highway 1]

Why not a bilingual Pare/Stop sign? 

Or a blank red octagon -easy to understand

[sipes23]

To get some road stuff in here.. Most signs are pretty easy to figure out even if you dont know the language especially with symbols

When we were in PR we rented a car. I think the only sign I couldn't figure out was the one that told me that there might be livestock in the road. Of course, I can't find it. The others were pretty obvious.

[SP Cook]

Biggest issue relative to road is not what it says on a stop sign.

PR uses the metric system for distance signs, and sells gasoline in metric.  But imports US standard cars with "English" measurements.  And thus posts "English" speed limit signs.   With no notice on the signage that this is the case.  So you would see "San Juan 50" and are just supposed to know that that is 50 km, and then US style but in Spanish  "55" signs are are just supposed to know that that means miles.

[kphoger]

Biggest issue relative to road is not what it says on a stop sign.

PR uses the metric system for distance signs, and sells gasoline in metric.  But imports US standard cars with "English" measurements.  And thus posts "English" speed limit signs.   With no notice on the signage that this is the case.  So you would see "San Juan 50" and are just supposed to know that that is 50 km, and then US style but in Spanish  "55" signs are are just supposed to know that that means miles.

But isn't that true right now?  How would statehood affect it?

[Brandon]

Biggest issue relative to road is not what it says on a stop sign.

PR uses the metric system for distance signs, and sells gasoline in metric.  But imports US standard cars with "English" measurements.  And thus posts "English" speed limit signs.   With no notice on the signage that this is the case.  So you would see "San Juan 50" and are just supposed to know that that is 50 km, and then US style but in Spanish  "55" signs are are just supposed to know that that means miles.

But isn't that true right now?  How would statehood affect it?

Not at all.  There is nothing I know of in the MUTCD that says a state must use the Imperial/English system or the Metric/French system of measurement on its highways.

[1995hoo]

Biggest issue relative to road is not what it says on a stop sign.

PR uses the metric system for distance signs, and sells gasoline in metric.  But imports US standard cars with "English" measurements.  And thus posts "English" speed limit signs.   With no notice on the signage that this is the case.  So you would see "San Juan 50" and are just supposed to know that that is 50 km, and then US style but in Spanish  "55" signs are are just supposed to know that that means miles.

But isn't that true right now?  How would statehood affect it?

Not at all.  There is nothing I know of in the MUTCD that says a state must use the Imperial/English system or the Metric/French system of measurement on its highways.

I believe the MUTCD explicitly allows either or both and has a design for a metric speed limit sign that has the number enclosed in a black circle with "km/h" underneath. An older edition prescribed a standard-looking speed limit sign with a yellow plaque above reading "METRIC" and a white plaque below reading "km/h," but presumably they came to their senses and realized the potential for trouble if the supplemental plaques were blown away in a storm or stolen by pranksters.

[roadfro]

^ The current MUTCD no longer includes designs for metric signs.