Enhanced Conspicuity for Signs

[DaBigE]

Anyone ever see something like this used before? It's three-sided: two sides have the fluorescent orange sheeting, the other has white. It spins in the wind on a vertical axis.

[Scott5114]

Around here a simple orange flag would be used for that application.

[1995hoo]

I've seen some speed limit signs in Virginia that have some spinning things that look like triangles on either side in areas where they want to call attention to a speed limit decrease. They're far from universal, though. I'm typing this on my iPad and don't know of a way to get a Street View link on here, but if someone is inclined to try to find them, the sign that most readily comes to mind is on southbound I-81 just north of Harrisonburg. The last time I was in Harrisonburg a few years ago, the speed limit dropped from 65 to 60 and the 60-mph signs had the spinning multicolored triangles. I don't know what the speed limit is there since the 70-mph law took effect, so the signs may have been replaced. I seem to recall the main rationale for the lower speed limit being congestion near the exits for JMU.

[PurdueBill]

They have those on Signal Ahead signs on US 24 near Peru, Indiana.  Haven't seen other ones in Indiana so I wonder if it was a trial by INDOT.  (Street view is no good in that area from what I can get.)

[hbelkins]

I've seen some of those before. Saw one recently, but can't remember where.

[txstateends]

That looks like some kind of special doodad or widget that was used in the past to draw your attention and make you stop at a place like a gas station or store, like strings of streamers or pinwheels.

I've seen either actual pennants or flags, mostly flourescent/construction orange, stuck upward at v-shaped angles.  Otherwise, it has been the same thing except metal square 'flag' shapes instead of a flexible fabric.  They've been at new/reconfigured stop sign installations, changed/added speed limit signs, or on yellow-diamond signal ahead signs for new signals that drivers weren't used to yet.

[briantroutman]

I've seen some speed limit signs in Virginia that have some spinning things that look like triangles on either side in areas where they want to call attention to a speed limit decrease....

I recall seeing these further south on I-81 near I-581 in the vicinity of Roanoke. At least they were there in the late '90s/early 2000s when I was visiting my brother at VT.

But wouldn't either a red flag, reflective panel, or beacon be more appropriate here? I thought the color of the conspicuity enhancer was supposed to match the type of sign.

[roadfro]

But wouldn't either a red flag, reflective panel, or beacon be more appropriate here? I thought the color of the conspicuity enhancer was supposed to match the type of sign.

When it's a flag-like device above the sign, it can be red or orange (regardless of sign color).

If it's reflective material attached to the sign post, the material has to match the primary color of the sign.

A "New", "Notice", "State Law" or similar plaque is black on yellow (or FYG).

A beacon has to be yellow, unless it's a stop sign (in which case the beacon is red).

Flashing LED lights within a sign can vary in color depending on sign type: white is okay for any sign but is required in regulatory signs (except red can be used for stop or yield), yellow can be used in warning & school signs, and yellow or orange can be used in construction zone signs.

[DaBigE]

That looks like some kind of special doodad or widget that was used in the past to draw your attention and make you stop at a place like a gas station or store, like strings of streamers or pinwheels.

That was my first thought too.

I've seen either actual pennants or flags, mostly flourescent/construction orange, stuck upward at v-shaped angles.  Otherwise, it has been the same thing except metal square 'flag' shapes instead of a flexible fabric.  They've been at new/reconfigured stop sign installations, changed/added speed limit signs, or on yellow-diamond signal ahead signs for new signals that drivers weren't used to yet.

Not sure of the exact hierarchy as to when one attention method gets used over another, but WisDOT just made the metal "flags" into a state standard. It must be fabric flags>metal flags>beacon. I don't recall seeing any "blinker signs" (with the LEDs in the border) on state roads in WI yet, but I have seen more RRFBs.

[cpzilliacus]

I've seen some speed limit signs in Virginia that have some spinning things that look like triangles on either side in areas where they want to call attention to a speed limit decrease. They're far from universal, though. I'm typing this on my iPad and don't know of a way to get a Street View link on here, but if someone is inclined to try to find them, the sign that most readily comes to mind is on southbound I-81 just north of Harrisonburg. The last time I was in Harrisonburg a few years ago, the speed limit dropped from 65 to 60 and the 60-mph signs had the spinning multicolored triangles. I don't know what the speed limit is there since the 70-mph law took effect, so the signs may have been replaced. I seem to recall the main rationale for the lower speed limit being congestion near the exits for JMU.

I have seen them on several Richmond-area freeways, including I-95, I-295, and I-64.

[vtk]

Anyone ever see something like this used before? It's three-sided: two sides have the fluorescent orange sheeting, the other has white. It spins in the wind on a vertical axis.

This kind of thing was attached to a few construction signs a couple of years ago on I-270 when it as being rebuilt.

[Mapmikey]

Here is one on GMSV - I-81 NB approaching Harrisonburg

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Harrisonburg,+VA&hl=en&ll=38.388495,-78.914623&spn=0.123922,0.264187&sll=37.285791,-80.122623&sspn=0.063167,0.132093&oq=harrison,+VA&hnear=Harrisonburg,+Virginia&t=m&z=13&layer=c&cbll=38.388577,-78.914639&panoid=fXbAfkD73QWz1odwvwIGQA&cbp=12,165.94,,0,0

Mapmikey

[jhuntin1]

They have those on Signal Ahead signs on US 24 near Peru, Indiana.  Haven't seen other ones in Indiana so I wonder if it was a trial by INDOT.  (Street view is no good in that area from what I can get.)

They also use them on speed limit signs in Indianapolis where the limit drops to 55. Here's an example on northbound I-65 on the south side approaching the interchange with I-465.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.688879,-86.103958,3a,75y,343.31h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sKxAocTKXuPaWCEP-Wt2bZA!2e0!6m1!1e1