Signage pet peeves

[andytom]

When on a two lane exit, with an optional lane and the BGS signs don't recognize the optional lane.  They only sign one lane as an "exit only" when there are two lanes that can exit (including the option lane).  They make drivers unfamiliar with the area change lanes for no reason.

I'll add a third vote for this one. Another MDOT (Michigan) usually gives no indication that the second right lane is an optional exit lane. Example (complete with negative contrast clearview):

I also don't like the solid white line at the two lane exit.  the right lane and the option lane is separated by a solid white line.  I think it should stay broken.   

Used to discourage last minute lane changes approaching the exit (where there's aready enough nonsense going on).

[codyg1985]

^ You think that solid white line is gonna stop 'em? Even in the prescence of ceramic domes in the white stripe doesn't stop some people.

[mightyace]

Add Tennessee to the list of states that reset the mileage on US and state routes at county lines.

[andytom]

^ You think that solid white line is gonna stop 'em? Even in the prescence of ceramic domes in the white stripe doesn't stop some people.

I said 'discourage', not prohibit.  This is in the verbiage in the MUTCD for use of the solid white stripe.  You can't keep people from doing stupid stuff.

The diagrams for lane striping with exit only lanes in the MUTCD show that, if there is no option lane, the solid stripe is optional and, when used, of variable length.  When there is an option lane, the solid stripe is merely of variable length.

[NE2]

At least in Florida it's legal to cross a solid single white line.

[Michael]

Kind of off-topic:
Couldn't they install a connector ramp from the Glenn Hearn Boulevard exit on I-565 curving north towards the intersection of Glenn Hearn Boulevard and Madison Boulevard at Exit 7?  Here's a Google Maps link.

[codyg1985]

Kind of off-topic:
Couldn't they install a connector ramp from the Glenn Hearn Boulevard exit on I-565 curving north towards the intersection of Glenn Hearn Boulevard and Madison Boulevard at Exit 7?  Here's a Google Maps link.

There are plans to put a WB I-565 ramp to County Line Road to the west and a County Line Rd to EB I-565 ramp in a couple of years. That's where the majority of the traffic exiting off at Wall-Triana Hwy is headed, anyway. It is needed badly.

[Alps]

Kind of off-topic:
Couldn't they install a connector ramp from the Glenn Hearn Boulevard exit on I-565 curving north towards the intersection of Glenn Hearn Boulevard and Madison Boulevard at Exit 7?  Here's a Google Maps link.

Pardon, in what way is that even close to on topic?

[myosh_tino]

At least in Florida it's legal to cross a solid single white line.

In California, if you cross a solid white line like the one pictured in the I-94 exit in Michigan, that will earn you a ticket if a police officer sees you do it.

[Scott5114]

I believe around here the distinction is single white line = okay to cross but discouraged, double white line = prohibited to cross.

[vdeane]

It's illegal to cross a solid white line in NY as well.

[Andrew T.]

Various peeves of mine:

• The use of artificially distorted typefaces, such as Series D condensed to be as narrow as Series C or stretched to be as wide as Series E.  The resulting lettering has an uneven stroke width, and looks unbalanced and ugly.  (Here's an example in an unlikely context.)


• Any use of Helvetica, Arial, or other off-the-shelf fonts not designed with on-road use in mind.  Worse yet is if the lettering is artificially distorted for good measure.


• Excessively-wordy guide signs in narrow lettering that's extremely hard to read.  This sign is posted in Green Bay, and it's just about impossible to make heads or tails out of at a glance:
  


• Brand new "word-only" signs being posted for warnings or regulations (i.e., "Stop Ahead"), when graphic equivalents for them have existed in the MUTCD for decades.
• Neutered Interstate shields with disproportionately-large numerals.
• Interstate shields on white squares:  www.aaroads.com/shields/show.php?image=WI19880436
• Cheap, one-piece plywood "billboards" for route marker assemblies.  (WisDOT is famous for this.)
• U.S. highways erroneously posted with state route markers, and vice versa.
• "Rough Road" and "Bump" signs posted on smoothly-repaved roads with no bumps.
• Parking regulation signs in red; "No Parking" signs in green.
• School and Pedestrian signs with small symbols shifted upwards...essentially, using the pre-2000 "crossing lines" template with the crossing lines removed.  There are more of these posted locally than I care to admit:
  
  I'm not fond of how "school" and "school crossing" have been redesignated with the same sign in the newest regulations, either; although that's crying over spilt milk.
• Limited-access highways with no exit numbering.  (I sometimes nearly lose my way on the Illinois Tollway for this reason.)
• The use of "feet," "miles," and customary short "tons" on signs.  Switching to metric once and for all would provide finer measures, simplify unit conversions, bring about synchronization with international conventions, and put an end to thirty-odd years of deadline-scuttling and procrastination.  (But let the slings and arrows begin...)

[codyg1985]

• Brand new "word-only" signs being posted for warnings or regulations (i.e., "Stop Ahead"), when graphic equivalents for them have existed in the MUTCD for decades.

Alabama has started doing this with Divided Highway and Divided Highway Ends signs. The state MUTCD actually has those signs called out with text-only. This drives me nuts since the symbols are universally accepted elsewhere.

[Quillz]

• Neutered Interstate shields with disproportionately-large numerals.

You pretty much just described 1970 specification Interstate shields. I dislike them, too.

[froggie]

What's your definition of "disproportionately-large numerals"?  10" numerals on a 24" shield?  12"?

I happen to like 10" numerals on that shield size....and proportionally larger on larger shields as needed.

[on_wisconsin]

• Excessively-wordy guide signs in narrow lettering that's extremely hard to read.  This sign is posted in Green Bay, and it's just about impossible to make heads or tails out of at a glance:
  


• Neutered Interstate shields with disproportionately-large numerals.
• Interstate shields on white squares:  www.aaroads.com/shields/show.php?image=WI19880436
• Cheap, one-piece plywood "billboards" for route marker assemblies.  (WisDOT is famous for this.)
• U.S. highways erroneously posted with state route markers, and vice versa.
• "Rough Road" and "Bump" signs posted on smoothly-repaved roads with no bumps.

I agree with all these, although plywood shields have a certain "only in Wisconsin" kitschy-ness. IMHO
Here are my pet peeves:

• Button Copy, especially when the reflectors have lost there reflectivity. (fire at will)
• Non use of route shields on BGS's, i.e. "US -151        1 mile" 
• Those new BGS arrows (one arrow per-lane)
• This sign:
  
• The new "school bus stop ahead" sign.
• USH 3di shields

[cu2010]

• Brand new "word-only" signs being posted for warnings or regulations (i.e., "Stop Ahead"), when graphic equivalents for them have existed in the MUTCD for decades.

New York actually continued to use word-only signs (especially "Stop Ahead") for many years after the graphic equivalents were written into the MUTCD that, being that NY only just starting using the national standard ones within the past few years, the graphic ones look weird...to say nothing short of the waste of taxpayer dollars replacing perfectly good signs.

Extra Large Caps bothers me as well, both in mixed-case and all-uppercase. They've been replacing perfectly good route shields with new ones with the first letter on the direction banner being larger than the rest, and it just looks weird.  It doesn't help that the NY shield they're using looks even worse (seriously...pick one standard and stick with it!)

Did anyone else initially read "ProSolutions" as "Prostitutions" on that sign? 

[agentsteel53]

What's your definition of "disproportionately-large numerals"?  10" numerals on a 24" shield?  12"?

I happen to like 10" numerals on that shield size....and proportionally larger on larger shields as needed.

I would imagine he was referring to the 12/24.  10/24 looks somewhat better.  But if you're going to do 10/24, you may as well have the wide white margins of '61 spec.

'70:


'61:

[Andrew T.]

What's your definition of "disproportionately-large numerals"?

12/24...essentially, any shield where the numbers look swollen and about to burst out of their frame at any moment:



10/24 looks better, and the non-neutered 10/24 shield is actually my personal favorite; proportion-wise.

Did anyone else initially read "ProSolutions" as "Prostitutions" on that sign? 

Ha, perhaps they knew what they were doing with that sign after all!

[Quillz]

What's your definition of "disproportionately-large numerals"?  10" numerals on a 24" shield?  12"?

I happen to like 10" numerals on that shield size....and proportionally larger on larger shields as needed.

I don't have exact dimensions to give, but I just don't like when the numbers are so large that there is little, if any, space between the numerals and the (thin) outer white border.

I just feel the '57 and '61 Interstate shields got it right and the '70 shields got it wrong.

[NE2]

This sign:

What would you use instead?

[Andrew T.]

While I can't speak for other members, I'd handle that with some combination of signs and a on the other side of the intersection.
I can't think of any situation that should require to be used.

[US71]

Here are my pet peeves:

• The new "school bus stop ahead" sign.

This one?


So far, they aren't very common. I've only seen 2 or 3 of them.

[Brian556]

This would be helpful where one is on a two way street where it becomes a one way street in the opposing direction. It would be good to use it in addition to Left/Right only signs

[Ian]

This sign:

The only time where I have ever seen that sign is along US 202 at the Concord Mall north entrance in Wilmington, DE.


It is certainly an oddball.

Here are my pet peeves:

• The new "school bus stop ahead" sign.

I actually like it, not that bad of a design.