TV shows messing up highway shields

[Brian556]

This isn't exactly an example of "messing up" highway shields, but it's either poor editing or more likely dramatic license, but I have noticed the Discovery Channel series "Stormchasers" sometimes puts in footage that clearly was not taken where a specific chase is taking place. Only a roadgeek would probably notice these, and you have to be watching really closely to notice them, but I watch the series as much for the roadgeeking aspects as I do the stormchasing.
A few examples-during one chase that was taking place in Oklahoma, there was a brief scene where they drove by a "K-14/K-96" reassurance sign, which is far from the Oklahoma border. Occasionally too you will see them driving towards a specific destination and you will see a mileage sign-then later see another mileage sign which was taken at some point before the first one. The most egregious example I can remember was when they were supposed to be driving on I-94 in North Dakota(the mileage signs and exit signs that were visible were consistent with this) and they had to get off the interstate to make a stop. Suddenly, they cut to a scene of the car(the "Dominator" if you are familiar with the show) getting off a freeway. A "US 70" sign was clearly visible as they got off on the exit ramp. Based on the fact that the ramp quickly joined a frontage road, it seems pretty clear that scene was taken in Plainview, TX off of I-27-far from North Dakota where the chase was taking place.

I noticed that during a chase in Mississippi, they showed a scence of the dominator driving that was clearly shot in Texas. it was obvious by the "WATCH FOR ICE ON BRIDGE" sign and the reflectors.

[national highway 1]

I don't think CA 37 is located in the desert, judging from the new Train album cover:

[tidecat]

I have seen one political ad in Eastern Kentucky where the incumbent touts improvements to US 119-the ad uses an Interstate shield with 119 in it.  US 119 is not built to interstate standard.

[formulanone]

I don't think CA 37 is located in the desert, judging from the new Train album cover:

There's also the well-worn promotional phenomenon of very old cars used for long-distance driving, especially through a desert.

[hobsini2]

I don't think CA 37 is located in the desert, judging from the new Train album cover:

There's also the well-worn promotional phenomenon of very old cars used for long-distance driving, especially through a desert.

Despite it being wrong, I really like that album cover.

[national highway 1]

I don't think CA 37 is located in the desert, judging from the new Train album cover:

There's also the well-worn promotional phenomenon of very old cars used for long-distance driving, especially through a desert.

Despite it being wrong, I really like that album cover.

Apart from the location issue. I'd agree, too. 

[apeman33]

This isn't exactly an example of "messing up" highway shields, but it's either poor editing or more likely dramatic license, but I have noticed the Discovery Channel series "Stormchasers" sometimes puts in footage that clearly was not taken where a specific chase is taking place. Only a roadgeek would probably notice these, and you have to be watching really closely to notice them, but I watch the series as much for the roadgeeking aspects as I do the stormchasing.
A few examples-during one chase that was taking place in Oklahoma, there was a brief scene where they drove by a "K-14/K-96" reassurance sign, which is far from the Oklahoma border. Occasionally too you will see them driving towards a specific destination and you will see a mileage sign-then later see another mileage sign which was taken at some point before the first one. The most egregious example I can remember was when they were supposed to be driving on I-94 in North Dakota(the mileage signs and exit signs that were visible were consistent with this) and they had to get off the interstate to make a stop. Suddenly, they cut to a scene of the car(the "Dominator" if you are familiar with the show) getting off a freeway. A "US 70" sign was clearly visible as they got off on the exit ramp. Based on the fact that the ramp quickly joined a frontage road, it seems pretty clear that scene was taken in Plainview, TX off of I-27-far from North Dakota where the chase was taking place.

After the American Pickers episode where they came to Fort Scott (they never said the name of the town in the episode but we had about half a dozen people come to the Tribune office to tell us they were here), I started looking for signs in shots of them on the road. There were several scenes from the area that were spliced into scenes of later shows when they were nowhere near Kansas.

[Road Hog]

In "Twister" the setting was Oklahoma and the real town of Wakita, up close to the Kansas border, was used in the movie. But in one chase scene a Texas FM marker is clearly seen.

[texaskdog]

This isn't exactly an example of "messing up" highway shields, but it's either poor editing or more likely dramatic license, but I have noticed the Discovery Channel series "Stormchasers" sometimes puts in footage that clearly was not taken where a specific chase is taking place. Only a roadgeek would probably notice these, and you have to be watching really closely to notice them, but I watch the series as much for the roadgeeking aspects as I do the stormchasing.
A few examples-during one chase that was taking place in Oklahoma, there was a brief scene where they drove by a "K-14/K-96" reassurance sign, which is far from the Oklahoma border. Occasionally too you will see them driving towards a specific destination and you will see a mileage sign-then later see another mileage sign which was taken at some point before the first one. The most egregious example I can remember was when they were supposed to be driving on I-94 in North Dakota(the mileage signs and exit signs that were visible were consistent with this) and they had to get off the interstate to make a stop. Suddenly, they cut to a scene of the car(the "Dominator" if you are familiar with the show) getting off a freeway. A "US 70" sign was clearly visible as they got off on the exit ramp. Based on the fact that the ramp quickly joined a frontage road, it seems pretty clear that scene was taken in Plainview, TX off of I-27-far from North Dakota where the chase was taking place.

After the American Pickers episode where they came to Fort Scott (they never said the name of the town in the episode but we had about half a dozen people come to the Tribune office to tell us they were here), I started looking for signs in shots of them on the road. There were several scenes from the area that were spliced into scenes of later shows when they were nowhere near Kansas.

That show is horrible about jamming in "file footage" whereever they need it.  Usually they are nowhere near the signs shown.

Speaking of which I always laugh when TV news shows generic signs trying to make you think they went to the location, such as when a construction project is being contemplated.  They throw in random sign pictures.

[codyg1985]

In "Twister" the setting was Oklahoma and the real town of Wakita, up close to the Kansas border, was used in the movie. But in one chase scene a Texas FM marker is clearly seen.

Complete with the Texas-style field goal type sign assembly. I also thought that was odd. That, and I also thought Wakita was in Kansas instead of Oklahoma.

Then again, I could see it possible that they did a chase that began in Kansas and ended up in north Texas.

[codyg1985]

I have seen one political ad in Eastern Kentucky where the incumbent touts improvements to US 119-the ad uses an Interstate shield with 119 in it.  US 119 is not built to interstate standard.

Maybe this candidate is aiming to change that?

</sarcasm>

[roadman]

After the American Pickers episode where they came to Fort Scott (they never said the name of the town in the episode but we had about half a dozen people come to the Tribune office to tell us they were here), I started looking for signs in shots of them on the road. There were several scenes from the area that were spliced into scenes of later shows when they were nowhere near Kansas.

On one show, they identified the pickers' location as New Hampshire, but showed an "I-93 North Concord NH" pull-thru sign that is actually located in Andover, Massachusetts (the button copy numerals on the Interstate shield were a dead giveaway)

[agentsteel53]

on another episode, they were going to Detroit, and the sign gantry they showed was Exit 2xx on one sign, with a Detroit control city on the other.  This must be just past Toledo, OH, before the state line.

[J N Winkler]

One subtle mistake I see a lot in commercially generated art with a highway theme is to use a route marker or other sign assembly which is designed to spec and looks completely authentic, but which is positioned far too close to the traveled way (e.g., three inches from the edge line in a clearly rural location, rather than outside the 30' clear zone).  In most cases this incorrect positioning is deliberate, though not an exercise of artistic license as such, since it allows the sign and the road to fit in the same frame while showing both the detail of the signface and the road vanishing into a point on the horizon.

[agentsteel53]

30 foot clear zone?  I don't think I've ever seen signs placed more than 30 feet away from the road.  can you give an example of such a thing? 

[swbrotha100]

Yesterday on TV I saw an ad for a car dealership in Peoria AZ showing Loop 101 with an "Interstate 101" shield.

[Jordanah1]

in the 'meat and cheese'? episode of larry the cable guy, he is driving from picket to seymor i believe, and you can clearly see the US41 construction zone in oshkosh as they are driving, they pass under the new witzel or 9th ave overpasses in the shot.

[Alps]

30 foot clear zone?  I don't think I've ever seen signs placed more than 30 feet away from the road.  can you give an example of such a thing? 

Some guide signs are, but no, most signs aren't. Anything on breakaway posts (mile markers, shields, regulatory signs) can sit within the clear zone. BGS supports are supposed to be outside the 30' or else protected by guiderail.

[agentsteel53]

when I think of 30 feet, I think of billboards.

I will keep a close eye on BGSes the next time I'm on the road.

[Alps]

when I think of 30 feet, I think of billboards.

I will keep a close eye on BGSes the next time I'm on the road.

Keep in mind clear zone is not a defined distance. The AASHTO green book provides recommendations but it is up to each agency to implement.

[Eth]

Just saw (literally about 30 seconds ago) a commercial about a transportation referendum here in Atlanta.  It includes a number of BGSes set in what appears to be Arial.  One in particular that caught my eye was a BGS for 14th Street, which for some reason was signed as "Exit 403".  There does not exist an exit by that number anywhere in the state; 14th Street is part of the Exit 250 complex on I-75/85.  I do, however, award them some bonus points for putting a US 19 shield on that BGS; while US 19 is not signed from the freeway for that exit, it is true that 14th Street does indeed carry that route at the interchange.