Signs for Idiots

[1995hoo]

Weird. Never heard of Newark, DE... I'd imagine most people seeing just "Newark" would assume it was referring to Newark, NJ as I did.

I don't know...the one in New Jersey is around 120 miles to the north, so I don't know how many people would assume that.

If you're not from the area, like I am, how would you know? I had assumed it was referring to some sort of circuitous routing involving a 3di and the New Jersey Turnpike somehow...

Beats me. I've lived on the East Coast since 1974 and have travelled that route for much of my life, so it's never confused me and I never fathomed the idea it could confuse someone, simply because I've always known that the city in New Jersey is so far away. My assumption is that anyone who was actually bound for Newark, New Jersey, would have looked at a map and would not have messed up badly enough to go that far out of the way. (....he says, despite having once missed a turn in Colorado that took him 125 miles out of the way via Granby and Winter Park when driving from Laramie to Denver.....)

I don't think it would be incumbent on Delaware to put a "DE" next to the word "Newark," though, simply because I don't know of any state that does that as to its own destinations with one exception–Virginia has a "Va" next to "Great Falls" on a BGS on the Beltway because the exit for Great Falls, MD, is about three miles away.

[Takumi]

I don't know of any state that does that as to its own destinations with one exception–Virginia has a "Va" next to "Great Falls" on a BGS on the Beltway because the exit for Great Falls, MD, is about three miles away.

There's also another one in Virginia. Distance signs to the town of Washington on US 211 always say "Washington VA". Even though US 211 doesn't go to DC anymore and it's many miles between the two places, it's still relevant due to the familiarity of the name.

[andrewkbrown]

^^^ The same goes for Washington, PA signs on I-70 and I-79.

[formulanone]

At railroad crossings: "DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS"

Absolutely necessary in south Florida.  WAY TOO many people stop on the tracks.

why the fuck would anyone do that?

Because of this clusterfuck.

[hbelkins]

I don't think it would be incumbent on Delaware to put a "DE" next to the word "Newark," though, simply because I don't know of any state that does that as to its own destinations with one exception–Virginia has a "Va" next to "Great Falls" on a BGS on the Beltway because the exit for Great Falls, MD, is about three miles away.

As if anyone is going to confuse Nashville, Ill. with any other Nashville.

[agentsteel53]

At railroad crossings: "DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS"

Absolutely necessary in south Florida.  WAY TOO many people stop on the tracks.

why the fuck would anyone do that?

Because of this clusterfuck.

I don't get it.  someone stops on the tracks, goes fireball and takes out a few people... so now more people stop on the tracks, necessitating warning signs?

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Weird. Never heard of Newark, DE... I'd imagine most people seeing just "Newark" would assume it was referring to Newark, NJ as I did.

You need to find a real geography department. More people think of Newark, Ohio than any other Newark in the world. Just ask any OSU or OU grad.

[1995hoo]

I don't know of any state that does that as to its own destinations with one exception–Virginia has a "Va" next to "Great Falls" on a BGS on the Beltway because the exit for Great Falls, MD, is about three miles away.

There's also another one in Virginia. Distance signs to the town of Washington on US 211 always say "Washington VA". Even though US 211 doesn't go to DC anymore and it's many miles between the two places, it's still relevant due to the familiarity of the name.

D'oh, good point, totally forgot about that one even though I've seen those signs many times. I assume I forgot because, like many people, I think of the town as "Little Washington" because of the Inn of same name.

[txstateends]

Weird. Never heard of Newark, DE... I'd imagine most people seeing just "Newark" would assume it was referring to Newark, NJ as I did.

I don't know...the one in New Jersey is around 120 miles to the north, so I don't know how many people would assume that.

If you're not from the area, like I am, how would you know? I had assumed it was referring to some sort of circuitous routing involving a 3di and the New Jersey Turnpike somehow...

I remember, in my original days of good credit, some of the banks/credit card issuers had HQs or major credit card processing offices in Newark, DE... apparently DE is (or has been) very favorable for credit card companies to operate there and to have interest terms that they (the CC companies, not accountholders) also have found favorable.

Many companies incorporate and/or file bankruptcy in DE because of other favorable terms (no matter where the companies are actually physically based).

[agentsteel53]

according to SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Newark NJ is the most important city in the region.

[formulanone]

"Focus City": Kind of like a control city for airlines using the hub-and-spoke system. Although Thule's airstrip is likely for emergency uses only. Søndre Strømfjord, on the other hand, is Air Greenland's hub.

You have to fly Virgin America to get the Google Maps experience while you fly (although terrain and aerial photos are your only choices, the latter is for people who can't see out the window).

[xcellntbuy]

At railroad crossings: "DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS"

Absolutely necessary in south Florida.  WAY TOO many people stop on the tracks.

why the fuck would anyone do that?

Because of this clusterfuck.

That's the accident that necessitated the signage.  Unfortunately, these train/automotive collisions continue to occur in south Florida.

[PurdueBill]

New Hampshire has to be the winner for signage in-state with the state identified--those new arrow-per-lane signs on I-95 NB approaching Exits 4 and 5 that mention "Portsmouth NH" are IN Portsmouth!! 

[Ian]

I'll add to this thread by mentioning PennDOT's "LOOK LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT BEFORE PULLING OUT" seen at several intersections in the state.

[signalman]

I just thought of a sign that I know I've seen on interstates in congested areas before:
WATCH FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC
No shit, thanks!  That's good advice regardless of what road one is driving on.

[Alps]

I'll add to this thread by mentioning PennDOT's signs

FTFY

[codyg1985]

I don't think it would be incumbent on Delaware to put a "DE" next to the word "Newark," though, simply because I don't know of any state that does that as to its own destinations with one exception–Virginia has a "Va" next to "Great Falls" on a BGS on the Beltway because the exit for Great Falls, MD, is about three miles away.

As if anyone is going to confuse Nashville, Ill. with any other Nashville.

Could be confusing to some people that are en route to Nashville, TN from St. Louis via I-64, I-57, and I-24.

[Brandon]

Could be confusing to some people that are en route to Nashville, TN from St. Louis via I-64, I-57, and I-24.

Yeah, but it's also on I-64 westbound!

[hbelkins]

That photo was taken westbound.

[Brandon]

That photo was taken westbound.

LOL!  I just took one of the same sign yesterday.

[Compulov]

I'll add to this thread by mentioning PennDOT's signs

FTFY

Yeah... wonder if there's any studies to see if these "helpful driving tips" signs have any effect at all. Or does PennDOT's sign shop just have a lot of free time?

Oh, and does PennDOT still have any of those "keep two dots following distance" setups left anywhere? I remember them from several years ago, but I can't recall seeing any recently.

[PHLBOS]

Oh, and does PennDOT still have any of those "keep two dots following distance" setups left anywhere? I remember them from several years ago, but I can't recall seeing any recently.

Yes, they still do.  PA 41 through Lancaster County still has them.

[Special K]

I just thought of a sign that I know I've seen on interstates in congested areas before:
WATCH FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC
No shit, thanks!  That's good advice regardless of what road one is driving on.

You don't normally see stopped traffic on an interstate.  This sign is merely alerting you to the good possibility that it will happen here.  Seems reasonable to me.

[Alex]

Oh, and does PennDOT still have any of those "keep two dots following distance" setups left anywhere? I remember them from several years ago, but I can't recall seeing any recently.

Yes, they still do.  PA 41 through Lancaster County still has them.

And along U.S. 322 east of State College.

[signalman]

Oh, and does PennDOT still have any of those "keep two dots following distance" setups left anywhere? I remember them from several years ago, but I can't recall seeing any recently.

Yes.  I 80 WB before the East Stroudsburg exit.