Daily conversation: What is the worst possible answer?

[kphoger]

Because we aren't a communist country, and us would signify socialism.

It's an especially bad answer because communism and socialism aren't the same thing.

That's why "interstate" is abbreviated with "I". This is an individualistic country, I will drive "I" routes as I please.

Nicely played.

[TheCatalyst31]

23 SEP 2025

What does this sign mean?

*optional* — With four words or less, what would be a good text-based version be?

Road go spinny

24 SEP 2025

Interstate Highway shields say "INTERSTATE" on them.
Why don't U.S. Route shields say "U.S." on them?

Some guy really wanted them to say "FEDERAL", and they left it blank as a compromise.

[Dirt Roads]

24 SEP 2025

Interstate Highway shields say "INTERSTATE" on them.
Why don't U.S. Route shields say "U.S." on them?

Because U.S. contains too many letters for a road sign.

[IowaTraveler]

23 SEP 2025

What does this sign mean?

*optional* — With four words or less, what would be a good text-based version be?

This is the sign you'll see when you drive west across a time zone boundary. The counterclockwise rotation indicated by the arrows serves as a reminder to set your clocks back by an hour. A clockwise version of this sign is used when driving east across a time zone boundary, although both versions of the sign have fallen out of use with the proliferation of clocks that automatically adjust to time zone changes.

24 SEP 2025

Interstate Highway shields say "INTERSTATE" on them.
Why don't U.S. Route shields say "U.S." on them?

They do, but the letters are in white like they are on interstate shields, so they blend in with the white background.

[akotchi]

23 SEP 2025

What does this sign mean?

*optional* — With four words or less, what would be a good text-based version be?

You are lost.

[kphoger]

This is the sign you'll see when you drive west across a time zone boundary. The counterclockwise rotation indicated by the arrows serves as a reminder to set your clocks back by an hour. A clockwise version of this sign is used when driving east across a time zone boundary, although both versions of the sign have fallen out of use with the proliferation of clocks that automatically adjust to time zone changes.
They do, but the letters are in white like they are on interstate shields, so they blend in with the white background.

By the way, I love both of these answers.

[GaryV]

24 SEP 2025

Interstate Highway shields say "INTERSTATE" on them.
Why don't U.S. Route shields say "U.S." on them?

Because they wanted to head off having internet posters that might sing about little bushes and invent non-existent words. Too bad it didn't work.

[Henry]

24 SEP 2025

Interstate Highway shields say "INTERSTATE" on them.
Why don't U.S. Route shields say "U.S." on them?

Because we don't want the foreigners to think that we're all police officers.

[Scott5114]

Good answer:
They used to.

I thought that was just a California thing.  Was that a nationwide standard at some point?

No, but nonetheless it did exist.

Actually, yes, it was a nationwide standard at one point, but only for about five years or so, and only on Interstate highways. It appeared in the AASHTO publication for signage on Interstate highways, which served as a stopgap until the 1961 MUTCD was ready.

Colorado was one of the heaviest users of it outside of California. Have a US-24 (and there are many more if you look in the Colorado section of the Shield Gallery).