Local Flavor on Road Signs

[SidS1045]

Observed this morning on several VMS's on I-93 southbound heading toward Boston:
CHANGING LANES?  USE YAH BLINKAH!!  (the local slang for "turn signal")
Any other examples out there?

[roadman65]

How about GWB for George Washington Bridge.  It is used a lot along local roads near the famous crossing and on traffic reports in the NYC metro area, but a person not familiar with the region would not know it.

[sammi]

In Manila, instead of this:


you have this:




EDIT: Pink says DON'T CROSS HERE / YOU COULD DIE, white says CROSSWALK IS OVER THERE <---------



Someone on reddit posted a picture from I-93: (Source)

[KEVIN_224]

Such a nice way to reinforce that nasty Boston accent...NOT! I'm two hours away in central Connecticut. I am soooooooooo happy that I don't sound that way!

@ Sammi: Get many locals talking about counting their DOLL-ers ($$$) and saying "Eh?" in Toronto? Let's see them do that on Ontario route 401! 

[Zeffy]

Someone on reddit posted a picture from I-93: (Source)

Oh, that's cute. Hopefully New Jersey and New York do not get this idea. Even though we should, because the amount of people who don't signal is honestly ridiculous.

[1995hoo]

Oh, that's cute. Hopefully New Jersey and New York do not get this idea. Even though we should, because the amount of people who don't signal is honestly ridiculous.

New Jersey and New York doing something like that would spark massive controversy because if they wanted to match the way people speak, every other word would have to be some form of "fucking," like "Use your fucking turn signal!"

There was an article a few years back about Marty Markowitz wanting to post signs saying, "Leaving Brooklyn. Oy vey!" The state DOT rejected the idea as a played-out stereotype.

[sammi]

@ Sammi: Get many locals talking about counting their DOLL-ers ($$$) and saying "Eh?" in Toronto?

Not sure about the first one, but I do know a lot of people for whom "eh" is a regular part of their lexicon. I may or may not be included.

Let's see them do that on Ontario route 401! 

Oh, you mean the 401!

[KEVIN_224]

In tune with local accents and terminology, we here in Connecticut could never say "Take the 84 freeway to the 91 freeway" like California would. Here we'd say "Take I-84 (or just 84) east to I-91 north to head to Springfield, Massachusetts." Something like that!

[Brian556]

quote from 1995hoo:

New Jersey and New York doing something like that would spark massive controversy because if they wanted to match the way people speak, every other word would have to be some form of "fucking," like "Use your fucking turn signal!"

LOL. So I guess Jersey Shore was an accurate portrayal of the way people speak in that area.

That seems strange to me, because, around here, you basically never hear people cussing in public.

[1995hoo]

I have never seen that show, so I have no idea.

[Zeffy]

LOL. So I guess Jersey Shore was an accurate portrayal of the way people speak in that area.

Definitely not. Yeah, New Jerseyans are pretty aggressive, but we don't say fuck after every sentence. Coming to Jersey and mentioning either the Jersey Shore (Stupid fucking TV show) or asking "What Exit?" (Hahahaahahahah so funny) is bound to piss us off. Don't generalize a region based upon (of ALL things) a TV show. There are many generalizations about Texas I've heard, but I won't assume them or use them. Same with Massachusetts. Same with New York. Same with California... the list goes on and on.

That being said, I know the New Brunswick area could benefit from a 'use your turn signals' sign... ugh trying to drive on NJ 18 is such a hazard with those people behind the wheel.

[jeffandnicole]

It doesn't happen as much anymore, but while on vacation when they ask where I'm from, and I respond New Jersey, they instantly think of the Jersey Shore.  Absolutely not!!!  Fuck.

[Pete from Boston]

In tune with local accents and terminology, we here in Connecticut could never say "Take the 84 freeway to the 91 freeway" like California would. Here we'd say "Take I-84 (or just 84) east to I-91 north to head to Springfield, Massachusetts." Something like that!

Except no one says "I." 

[SidS1045]

Another almost-famous sign with definite local flavor:

Leaving Brooklyn
Fuggedaboutit!

[kurumi]

If you want to stand out in Fairfield County, refer to the Merritt Parkway as "the 15".

[txstateends]

I'm kind of surprised that TX doesn't do some kind of 'y'all' or other twangy stuff on certain signs, but I think it's good that we don't.  Leave that to the tourism department.  Besides, how often does "blinkah" get addressed or called for in the MUTCD?

[myosh_tino]

In tune with local accents and terminology, we here in Connecticut could never say "Take the 84 freeway to the 91 freeway" like Southern Californians would. Here we'd say "Take I-84 (or just 84) east to I-91 north to head to Springfield, Massachusetts." Something like that!

Made a slight correction to your post.  Northern Californians tend to use "I-xx" or "US xx" or "Highway XX" or just the route number when taking about our freeways.  Using terms like "the 91 freeway" is purely a southern California convention that's shunned up in northern California.

[Brandon]

In tune with local accents and terminology, we here in Connecticut could never say "Take the 84 freeway to the 91 freeway" like Southern Californians would. Here we'd say "Take I-84 (or just 84) east to I-91 north to head to Springfield, Massachusetts." Something like that!

Made a slight correction to your post.  Northern Californians tend to use "I-xx" or "US xx" or "Highway XX" or just the route number when taking about our freeways.  Using terms like "the 91 freeway" is purely a southern California convention that's shunned up in northern California.

Unless you're in Ontario, and use tell someone to take The 401 to The 403 to The QEW and exit at Highway 58.
Across the big lake in Michigan, it's a bit different, "take 94 to 127 and exit at M-36."

[sammi]

Unless you're in Ontario, and use tell someone to take The 401 to The 403 to The QEW and exit at Highway 58.

Rule: the 400-series highways (including the QEW) get "the", everything else gets "Highway".

[Mr. Matté]

Here's some local flavor on a South Jersey VMS, or at least if it was Fred Armisen playing David Paterson running the highway department:


(Story here)

[jbnv]

I saw a picture of a VMS on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway with the message "NO TAILGATING EXCEPT AT THE DOME." (As in Mercedes-Benz Superdome.)

I've seen messages on Texas VMSs imploring the driver to prepare for hurricane season. Don't think I have seen such on the VMSs in Louisiana. Seems like if they aren't being used to relay an urgent message, they're just off. They could be used to promote the state with a message like "DEMAND LOUISIANA SEAFOOD" or "VACATION IN THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE."

[hotdogPi]

I saw a picture of a VMS on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway with the message "NO TAILGATING EXCEPT AT THE DOME." (As in Mercedes-Benz Superdome.)

I've seen messages on Texas VMSs imploring the driver to prepare for hurricane season. Don't think I have seen such on the VMSs in Louisiana. Seems like if they aren't being used to relay an urgent message, they're just off. They could be used to promote the state with a message like "DEMAND LOUISIANA SEAFOOD" or "VACATION IN THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE."

The MUTCD says they can't be used for advertising.

[agentsteel53]

The MUTCD says they can't be used for advertising.

thank goodness for that.  "DON'T USE PHONE WHILE DRIVING BUT CALL 911 IF YOU SEE A BLACK PERSON" is bad enough.

[Brandon]

The MUTCD says they can't be used for advertising.

I hope the next edition of the MUTCD prohibits death counts as well.

[JoePCool14]

The MUTCD says they can't be used for advertising.

I hope the next edition of the MUTCD prohibits death counts as well.

Why IDOT feels the need each year to do that is beyond me.