"State Law" Signs

[Brian556]

I believe the standard wording is actually "OBSERVE WARNING SIGNS"
Actually the standard wording changes from "OBSERVE" to "OBEY" several years ago. "OBSERVE" made alot more sense.

[hm insulators]

  New Jersey also reminds you that it's state law to use headlights with wipers.

I better not drive in New Jersey then. My headlights don't have wipers on them!

[PHLBOS]

New York still has some signs that say "State Speed Limit 55" even though that's not true anymore. 

Actually, it is.  If there is no posted speed limit, the limit is considered to be 55.  Also, 65 is a special exception for certain freeways.  NYSDOT is prohibited from setting a speed limit higher than 55 on non-freeways.

Many states have a de-facto speed limit on various types of roads; meaning if it isn't signed otherwise, the speed limit is XX mph.  In Massachusetts, the assumed speed limit on a divided highway is 50 mph unless otherwise posted.  However, most divided highways are posted at either 55 and 65 mph. 

In PA, no speed limit signs on just about any road (outside of urban areas) implies that the speed limit for that stretch is 55 mph.  Which explains why even some short, dead-end roads have 25 mph speed limit signs on them; even though by the time one accelerates to 25-30, they're at the cul-de-sac.

With regards to NY State's speed limit signage; on some local roads in NY, I've also seen some VILLAGE SPEED LIMIT 30 signs around.

[J N Winkler]

State Law is supposed to imply that it's a unique law specific to [certain] states.

Actually, that is not quite what it is supposed to mean.  It is supposed to mean that the restriction described is part of the rules of the road in that state:  in other words, it applies everywhere in that state, whether it is posted on a sign or not.  A "STATE LAW" sign is therefore a reminder sign.

[jeffandnicole]

In NJ, PA & DE, they all tend to haphazardly mention a few of the traffic laws as you enter the state.  Since all 3 states tend to have exits, intersections, etc. just after entering the state, even signage that is posted can be missed because someone already exited the roadway, or they're too busy looking at destination signage, street names, etc.

Heck - In NJ even the roadway's speed limit isn't posted for upwards of a mile or so in some cases upon entering the state.

Oklahoma has a "STATE LAW: MERGE NOW [arrow]" sign for use at temporary lane drops, meant to promote early merging rather than the behavior many exhibit of speeding up to the cones and sitting there waiting for a gap.

I hate those signs.  If it's a state law that I not use the left lane anymore, then why is the darned thing wide open?

Totally agree.  "Lane Ends 1,000 Feet" or whatever means the lane is ending, and should mean the lane is open for use.  One doesn't stop at a "Stop Ahead" sign - they stop at the upcoming stop sign.  One doesn't stop at a "Traffic Light Ahead" sign - they stop at the traffic light, and if the light is red.  At a reduced speed limit sign, the reduced speed limit takes effect at the speed limit sign.  Why are lane ending treated differently?

For what it's worth, NJ only tends to post a temporary lane closure at 1,500 feet prior or 1/4 mile prior to the lane closure point, which mostly ensures that the lanes are fully used.  Other states tend to have similiar signage.  Most of these states still have signage that say "Road Work 1 Mile Ahead", but don't alert you at that point to any lane closures. (Granted, you can probably see which lane is closed up ahead - there's just no signs regarding it yet.)

[vdeane]

Oklahoma has a "STATE LAW: MERGE NOW [arrow]" sign for use at temporary lane drops, meant to promote early merging rather than the behavior many exhibit of speeding up to the cones and sitting there waiting for a gap.

I hate those signs.  If it's a state law that I not use the left lane anymore, then why is the darned thing wide open?

So you have room to move over if there's traffic in the other lane.

At a reduced speed limit sign, the reduced speed limit takes effect at the speed limit sign.

Too bad many people are unaware of this.  I've seen many people slow down to be at the reduced speed at the same time they pass the reduced speed limit sign.

[signalman]

At a reduced speed limit sign, the reduced speed limit takes effect at the speed limit sign.

Too bad many people are unaware of this.  I've seen many people slow down to be at the reduced speed at the same time they pass the reduced speed limit sign.
[/quote]
Perhaps they're people who have been nailed for speeding upon entering the new reduced speed limit zone and are unwilling to take future chances.

[1995hoo]

....

http://goo.gl/maps/vjSNQ  <---Newer signs of this variety take a different format. I believe this sign has been replaced, but I won't be trying for a picture today (weather's too nasty). I believe the re-wording had something to do with an amended statute clarifying that the "Move Over" law doesn't apply only to moving over for cops/ambulances/fire trucks but may also require moving over for tow trucks.

The sign shown above has indeed been replaced. The newer one refers to stopped emergency vehicles "with flashing lights." I passed the new sign today with my dashboard camera running and I'll try to edit this with a screen capture, if it's legible and not too grainy, after I download videos from the memory card.

Frankly I thought the old sign was clearer–the new one has more words and they're in varied sizes (but still in all caps).

[ChoralScholar]

Oklahoma has a "STATE LAW: MERGE NOW [arrow]" sign for use at temporary lane drops, meant to promote early merging rather than the behavior many exhibit of speeding up to the cones and sitting there waiting for a gap.

I hate those signs.  If it's a state law that I not use the left lane anymore, then why is the darned thing wide open?

For me it conjures up images of miles and miles of traffic hugged up against the right shoulder, with cars leap frog passing each other and immediately jumping back into the right lane, for fear of staying in the sacrosanct holy left lane for too long.

If you do that for too long, you get what Arkansas had when I first started to drive: a right lane that was beaten to hell, and a left lane that looked largely unused.

[kphoger]

Oklahoma has a "STATE LAW: MERGE NOW [arrow]" sign for use at temporary lane drops, meant to promote early merging rather than the behavior many exhibit of speeding up to the cones and sitting there waiting for a gap.

I hate those signs.  If it's a state law that I not use the left lane anymore, then why is the darned thing wide open?

For me it conjures up images of miles and miles of traffic driving in the right lnae, with cars leap frog passing each other and immediately jumping back into the right lane, the way they're supposed to.

If you do that for too long, you get what Arkansas had when I first started to drive: only one lane that needed the be repaved, and a left lane that could stay open during construction.

FTFY

[ChoralScholar]

Oklahoma has a "STATE LAW: MERGE NOW [arrow]" sign for use at temporary lane drops, meant to promote early merging rather than the behavior many exhibit of speeding up to the cones and sitting there waiting for a gap.

I hate those signs.  If it's a state law that I not use the left lane anymore, then why is the darned thing wide open?

For me it conjures up images of miles and miles of traffic driving in the right lnae, with cars leap frog passing each other and immediately jumping back into the right lane, the way they're supposed to.

If you do that for too long, you get what Arkansas had when I first started to drive: only one lane that needed the be repaved, and a left lane that could stay open during construction.

FTFY

Let's stay out of the left lane, because we'll need it after we wear the right one out?  That's a policy based in common sense. </sarcasm>

[kphoger]

I prefer:  "Let's stay out of the left lane, because I'm human and I make mistakes and I might not realize until it's too late that there's a guy wanting to go 100 mph behind me (might be police, might be civilian), and making him slow down and/or change lanes is more dangerous than just not being in front of him to begin with".

The pavement issue is just a nice benefit of doing things the right way.

[roadman]

Consistent with the guidance in the 2009 MUTCD, the current "work zone double speeding fines" signs in Massachusetts are supposed to read "WORK ZONE (in black on orange)/SPEEDING FINES DOUBLED (in black on white)"

However, the traffic control contractor on the I-93 sound barrier project in Andover has been using the older "STATE LAW SPEEDING FINES DOUBLED IN WORK ZONES" with one modification: "STATE LAW" is black on orange (instead of white on black), and the rest of the sign is black on white.

Unfortunately, the only time I'm through that section of I-93 is PM rush hour when the "active" breakdown lane is in use, so I have yet to get a photograph of one of these signs.