The actual Worst of Road Signs

[jeffandnicole]

That looks to me like a normally designed sign that was then rendered to an image on a computer that didn't have the correct font.

The shields are probably that, since they are generally added later.

However, the rest of the sign is not.  What you see here is often what is designed and printed on the sign.

[Scott5114]

What is it about the name "Craig" that causes sign designers to lose all sense of taste?

[ClassicHasClass]

Oh, I know exactly where that is! Ugh!

[pderocco]

What is it about the name "Craig" that causes sign designers to lose all sense of taste?

Looks fine if viewed from 45 degrees.

[plain]

Saw this one early this morning. This is easily Richmond's worst blade (also one in the other direction). Any other time the city would have a bigger sign so all of the information would fit nicely, but here they squeezed everything on here, with a wild font to boot.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/H4PnvnBrQRpJjfDr5

[Scott5114]

Saw this one early this morning. This is easily Richmond's worst blade (also one in the other direction). Any other time the city would have a bigger sign so all of the information would fit nicely, but here they squeezed everything on here, with a wild font to boot.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/H4PnvnBrQRpJjfDr5

This is one reason that I like the way Las Vegas hangs the street name sign below the pole and uses both sides of it—in situations like this they will separate the information on the signs so that everything pertaining to the street to the right on the right-side pole, and everything having to do with the street to the left on the left-side pole. Sort of hard to explain in text, so here's an example. It takes some getting used to but once you understand the convention it conveys the info really well without making the text smaller or making the sign bigger.

[freebrickproductions]

Saw this one early this morning. This is easily Richmond's worst blade (also one in the other direction). Any other time the city would have a bigger sign so all of the information would fit nicely, but here they squeezed everything on here, with a wild font to boot.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/H4PnvnBrQRpJjfDr5

This is one reason that I like the way Las Vegas hangs the street name sign below the pole and uses both sides of it—in situations like this they will separate the information on the signs so that everything pertaining to the street to the right on the right-side pole, and everything having to do with the street to the left on the left-side pole. Sort of hard to explain in text, so here's an example. It takes some getting used to but once you understand the convention it conveys the info really well without making the text smaller or making the sign bigger.

Huntsville just does it like this:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.6719488,-86.5392658,3a,15y,191.08h,101.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sMPws8vnKQRNskfLYMKmRag!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-11.04558134747964%26panoid%3DMPws8vnKQRNskfLYMKmRag%26yaw%3D191.07554296872303!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIyNi4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

The Richmond example honestly reminds me of the street blades Rutherford County, TN, uses, which ain't exactly the prettiest either...
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.7100022,-86.399489,3a,15y,120h,101.49t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1st0nryDSOpRbsvuMlYctghg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-11.491564801554716%26panoid%3Dt0nryDSOpRbsvuMlYctghg%26yaw%3D119.99725077822106!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIyNi4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.9383539,-86.413397,3a,15y,114.46h,89.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1seAGFcBgd-Cx49fIW7iIZfw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D0.97843367505304%26panoid%3DeAGFcBgd-Cx49fIW7iIZfw%26yaw%3D114.46430107107506!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIyNi4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[LilianaUwU]

A fancy STOP sign at an apartment complex.

Completely unenforceable. Also, worthy of the Actual Worst of Road Signs.

[roadfro]

Saw this one early this morning. This is easily Richmond's worst blade (also one in the other direction). Any other time the city would have a bigger sign so all of the information would fit nicely, but here they squeezed everything on here, with a wild font to boot.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/H4PnvnBrQRpJjfDr5

This is one reason that I like the way Las Vegas hangs the street name sign below the pole and uses both sides of it—in situations like this they will separate the information on the signs so that everything pertaining to the street to the right on the right-side pole, and everything having to do with the street to the left on the left-side pole. Sort of hard to explain in text, so here's an example. It takes some getting used to but once you understand the convention it conveys the info really well without making the text smaller or making the sign bigger.

I've always appreciated this setup as well. Occasionally, they'll add arrows as well (example), but that seems to be more an exception than the rule.

City of Las Vegas and Clark County still like the "double-sided sign hangs below the mast arm" approach for their internally-lit street name signs. Henderson, and apparently now North Las Vegas (which, until fairly recently, only used static SNSs at signalized intersections), use an "attach a double-sided sign to the mast pole just above the mast arm" method. But given that, the approach to signing street name changes at an intersection is the same. (NLV example, and its prior static sign)

Reno and Sparks used to be like Las Vegas. But the current standard here now employs thin, single sided, internally-lit street name signs mounted directly to the mast arm, so we get oversized signs like this (if they remember to sign the name change).

[mglass87]

This I-95 sign that was removed a while ago in Colonial Heights, VA:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JfSs2NQD8Hi33y5k8

[CovalenceSTU]

Usually it seems disgusting signs are taken down pretty promptly. But in this case, I found a sign that was mentioned on page 6 of the old 'Worst Signs' thread (Sep. 2011) that is still there (as of last year) in all its glory, and with the same errors!

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.9560105,-84.9561708,3a,75y,26.17h,89.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sarponmQ5GnrQTsZsenhhog!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

This sign deserves to be re-nominated, it was just missing an arrow 14 years ago but it's not looking too good after getting the greenout special:

[74/171FAN]

This I-95 sign that was removed a while ago in Colonial Heights, VA:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JfSs2NQD8Hi33y5k8

That sign is fine compared to the ugliness throughout the area now with the VA/US 144 shields and of course Hopewell in general.

[Max Rockatansky]

This sign was on northbound CA 1 approaching Del Monte Boulevard near Castroville by a heavy rainstorm in January 2023.  The top portion of the sign was fixed but the bottom half was never reattached and has since vanished:

IMG_6644 by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

[LilianaUwU]

I discovered this when re-clinching US-395 by driving the new Olancha/Cartago Bypass. This was at the intersection of the new Crystal Geyser Rd and what has now been demoted to US-395 Business Route:

What poor demented soul felt obliged to put "US" on this sign?

Also, this should be taken down anyway, since the detour is no longer needed. The new end of route 190 at US-395 is open to traffic.

[plain]

I completely forgot about this dumb shit in Raleigh until I was playing around on GSV just now.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fskCj4xyQDZ4dUbX9?g_st=ac

[CoreySamson]

Aw man! I found a bad sign today, but I couldn't take a picture of it and street view isn't updated. I think it was supposed to be a SH 288 shield, but it ended up wrong (ironically, it stood not too far from where the infamous US 288 sign stood)

I think I re-found this sign that I had discovered several years ago (or at least a variant of it... there were multiple scattered about):
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HKRRaNuWNVRjKG767

Never seen a Texas state highway shield messed up that badly. It's probably leftover construction signage that somehow stayed around.

[LilianaUwU]

Aw man! I found a bad sign today, but I couldn't take a picture of it and street view isn't updated. I think it was supposed to be a SH 288 shield, but it ended up wrong (ironically, it stood not too far from where the infamous US 288 sign stood)

I think I re-found this sign that I had discovered several years ago (or at least a variant of it... there were multiple scattered about):
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HKRRaNuWNVRjKG767

Never seen a Texas state highway shield messed up that badly. It's probably leftover construction signage that somehow stayed around.

At least it's not in Clearview.

[ClassicHasClass]

One big BGS of fail.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/8ZznJ2R6uRs3zP3n7

[fillup420]

I completely forgot about this dumb shit in Raleigh until I was playing around on GSV just now.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fskCj4xyQDZ4dUbX9?g_st=ac

what exactly is the "dumb shit" here?

[hotdogPi]

I completely forgot about this dumb shit in Raleigh until I was playing around on GSV just now.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fskCj4xyQDZ4dUbX9?g_st=ac

what exactly is the "dumb shit" here?

It doesn't say which one is which.

[fillup420]

I completely forgot about this dumb shit in Raleigh until I was playing around on GSV just now.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fskCj4xyQDZ4dUbX9?g_st=ac

what exactly is the "dumb shit" here?

It doesn't say which one is which.

Its both. If a driver keeps to the right, they go onto McDowell St towards Downtown Raleigh. Not sure how that is confusing in any way....

[hotdogPi]

I completely forgot about this dumb shit in Raleigh until I was playing around on GSV just now.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fskCj4xyQDZ4dUbX9?g_st=ac

what exactly is the "dumb shit" here?

It doesn't say which one is which.

Its both. If a driver keeps to the right, they go onto McDowell St towards Downtown Raleigh. Not sure how that is confusing in any way....

I'm referring to the truck route/local only sign, not the McDowell St. sign.

[fillup420]

I completely forgot about this dumb shit in Raleigh until I was playing around on GSV just now.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fskCj4xyQDZ4dUbX9?g_st=ac

what exactly is the "dumb shit" here?

It doesn't say which one is which.

Its both. If a driver keeps to the right, they go onto McDowell St towards Downtown Raleigh. Not sure how that is confusing in any way....

I'm referring to the truck route/local only sign, not the McDowell St. sign.

Thats saying its a route for local trucks only. Those signs can be found all around Raleigh.

[plain]

I completely forgot about this dumb shit in Raleigh until I was playing around on GSV just now.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fskCj4xyQDZ4dUbX9?g_st=ac

what exactly is the "dumb shit" here?

It doesn't say which one is which.

Its both. If a driver keeps to the right, they go onto McDowell St towards Downtown Raleigh. Not sure how that is confusing in any way....

I'm referring to the truck route/local only sign, not the McDowell St. sign.

Thats saying its a route for local trucks only. Those signs can be found all around Raleigh.

I'm also referring to that sign. If anything, with those arrows, the routes should be side by side, not on top of the other.

[Sapphuby]

I completely forgot about this dumb shit in Raleigh until I was playing around on GSV just now.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fskCj4xyQDZ4dUbX9?g_st=ac

what exactly is the "dumb shit" here?

It doesn't say which one is which.

Its both. If a driver keeps to the right, they go onto McDowell St towards Downtown Raleigh. Not sure how that is confusing in any way....

I'm referring to the truck route/local only sign, not the McDowell St. sign.

Thats saying its a route for local trucks only. Those signs can be found all around Raleigh.

I'm also referring to that sign. If anything, with those arrows, the routes should be side by side, not on top of the other.

Yeah that's a terrifically vague sign. What they should've done like you said is put the arrows for truck and local traffic next to their actual labels, or split the signs into 4 and set it up on a two-post gantry so that the signs actually make sense. I think they meant that local traffic should take McDowell Street towards Downtown, while all truck traffic should stay on the main highway, but that's my guess.