The Worst of Road Signs

[Zeffy]

If we're doing overhead signs then:



'57 spec shields inserted for Jake's pleasure.    Ah crap, I just realized that I used EM for the first sign and E-half-modified for the second.    Too lazy to re-export.

[jakeroot]

Ah crap, I just realized that I used EM for the first sign and E-half-modified for the second.    Too lazy to re-export.

What the hell is E-half-Modified? Series E with huge kerning?

[Scott5114]

Series E half-modified, also known as Enhanced E-Modified to those actually in the business, is Series E glyphs with E(M) kerning. E(M) glyphs are bolder to accommodate button reflectors, so there's no real need for them anymore. The same study that torpedoed Clearview included E(HM) as an alternative, and recommended further study of it.

[Eth]

Bit of a quibble with the redesigns here: in this case, the street name is in fact "West Ponce de Leon Avenue", and you'd be traveling east on it, so the all-caps WEST isn't really appropriate. Also, it's northbound US 29.

(Street View here.)

[my own redesign would go here, but my host is being uncooperative at the moment]

[vdeane]

Someone please tell the MTA that they're not allowed to erect signage...

[roadfro]

On the first sign, I know the MUTСD doesn't like more than 2 lines of destinations, but what I did here technically is still 2 lines right? 

Actually, the MUTCD guidance say no more than two street names or destinations on one sign... Nice try!

[MillTheRoadgeek]

- MD 216 shield is way too big
- Destination legend, "Scaggsville" either looks too big or too wide.
- Cardinal direction, "West" shouldn't be in Clearview and is probably slightly too big.
- Arrow should be to the right of the destination legend or between with the cardinal direction and the destination legend, which for some reason took up the whole bottom of the sign.

I'm pretty sure there are a few more errors with this sign that I haven't found yet.

I also think the BBS on the left of the sign should be replaced.

Here are my redesigns:

No offense, but I think the exit number tab actually looks nice. Oh well, your redesign still looks awesome anyways.

[TrevorB]

The town of Tunica, MS apparently decided to custom make all of their stop, street, and guide signs. It's not just these...it's EVERY SINGLE sign in the city.

[freebrickproductions]

Here's a lovely one I found in a parking lot at a church:

You need a new sign by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

The signs for Exit 172 on I-65 in Montgomery, AL could've been designed better, IMO:

Exit 172 (I-65) by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Exit 172 (I-65) by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

[Zeffy]

What's wrong with the last signs?

[hotdogPi]

What's wrong with the last signs?

I think it's the location of the yellow part.

[Brandon]

What's wrong with the last signs?

I believe the yellow "Exit Only" tab is supposed to go across the entire sign if there's just one lane exiting.  Looks like the DOT couldn't make up their minds if it should be one lane or two.  Definitely a design error.

[CentralCAroadgeek]

The signs look to be "connected", but are uneven at the bottom. Probably because Maryland Pkwy. was recently completed.

[roadman]

Someone please tell the MTA that they're not allowed to erect signage...

Is that an O or a Q on the sign for the BQE?  As for the "92 ST" sign - YUCK!

[Takumi]

I actually like that all-yellow-on-black left exit tab.

[agentsteel53]

'57 spec shields inserted for Jake's pleasure.

those are '61 or so spec.  original 1926 shield shape, in any case.

[vdeane]

Is that an O or a Q on the sign for the BQE?  As for the "92 ST" sign - YUCK!

Should be Q.  Sadly, that 92nd St sign isn't the only mini on I-278, and NYCDOT is guilty too.

[Scott5114]

Oh, sure, we don't need the MUTCD at all.

[Android]

Maybe the Apes will make better signs...

[formulanone]

More like Planet of the Tiny Shapes...

[CrystalWalrein]

The town of Tunica, MS apparently decided to custom make all of their stop, street, and guide signs. It's not just these...it's EVERY SINGLE sign in the city.

Just started scoping out the town. I can't believe this isn't a gated community where these would be a bit more acceptable. Ah well, at least MS 4 and US 61 have normal signage....

EDIT: Spoke too soon. Even MS 4's been bitten by the bug. Isn't there a law that the state has to provide the signage for that road...?

EDIT AGAIN: Nope, state maintenance is apparently suspended through the town....

[cl94]

Someone please tell the MTA that they're not allowed to erect signage...

Nice lines separating the left and center lanes. Haven't seen that old NY standard in quite some time. Just about everywhere in the state has gotten rid of them, including (most of) Region 1, the last place I saw them. Only place I've seen them recently is near Toronto. I've always thought they made perfect sense, but obviously some do not.

If you think those things are bad, the Port Authority has some pretty crappy installations near its bridges and tunnels. NYCDOT has a few relatively-new signs near the Lincoln Tunnel pointing to "I-495 West". Still better than most of the signs PennDOT makes.

[Mr. Matté]

Saw this at the corner of Middlesex CR 614 and Campus Road in Plainsboro, NJ:


What's funny is that it used to have some generic CR 614 blade (circa 2008): https://www.google.com/maps/@40.34043,-74.615761,3a,75y,29.54h,86.66t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1spVUKi0kwlmpaJksssOeFCA!2e0
And then the sign blades got replaced with NJDOT-style blades (intersection is the first one past the US 1 interchange): https://www.google.com/maps/@40.340574,-74.615867,3a,40.1y,56.9h,95.39t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1shKKX-RKsIRz_OY_GKo3w1g!2e0

[hotdogPi]

Saw this at the corner of Middlesex CR 614 and Campus Road in Plainsboro, NJ:

What's wrong with this sign? I don't see how this is "worst of".

[Scott5114]

Lowercase letters are 75% of the height they're supposed to be, a common error resulting from someone misreading the MUTCD.