Curve signs with the advisory speed in the sign

[Takumi]

I saw several of these in Suffolk, VA this weekend. This example is on VA 125.


Has anyone ever seen these elsewhere?

[1995hoo]

I have seen that sort of sign in multiple places in the US, although I could not name such a location for you off the top of my head.

[myosh_tino]

Curve signs with advisory speed limits are very common out here in California.  There are two black-on-yellow curve signs in the latest SHSM book... W1-1a and W1-2a.

California has a total of 6 curve signs that include an advisory speed.  These are W4-1(CA), W4-4(CA), W4-7(CA), W4-10(CA), W4-14(CA) and W4-18(CA).

W4-4(CA) and W4-7(CA) seemed to be slightly modified versions of the federal W1-1a and W1-2a signs.

[agentsteel53]

they are the standard here in CA, and have been so for many years.  I am not sure how long - 1971 maybe?  I don't recall any of my 50s and 60s signing manuals having them.

[PurdueBill]

California has had them for a long time indeed (first place I ever saw them) and they have worked their way into the national MUTCD.  Even the City of Akron sign shop makes and installs them now, and they had always been notoriously old-fashioned (old fonts, etc.).

The specific variant in the picture, though, seems to be a cross between two sign types (W1-10 and W1-2a).  Interesting...possibly should be a W1-10 with an advisory speed plaque below it by the rules--not that it's necessarily that hard to figure out.

[hbelkins]

Beginning to see these more frequently in Kentucky.  I like them. They eliminate the need for a separate advisory speed plate, thus saving money on materials and installation/replacement costs.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Several of these have appeared, in the last year, about a mile down the road from my house, on a Morrow County (Ohio) highway.

[roadfro]

Nevada has borrowed this design from California on occasion. Saw a couple examples of new installations recently, but can't recall where (maybe US 95 in Goldfield).

[formulanone]

They're recent to Florida, as well...hadn't noticed them until mid-2011.

[US71]

Arkansas is beginning to use them on a limited basis.

[agentsteel53]

Nevada has borrowed this design from California on occasion. Saw a couple examples of new installations recently, but can't recall where (maybe US 95 in Goldfield).

the giant 30mph truck tipping warning sign on US-95 northbound goes back to 2006, if not even further back, from what I recall.

[Special K]

A TURN symbol with a speed advisory message appears at least as far back as the 2000 MUTCD.

[adt1982]

They are becoming pretty common here in Illinois.

[realjd]

They're recent to Florida, as well...hadn't noticed them until mid-2011.

There's one on the road to my house in Palm Bay. It was there in 2008 when I bought the house and it was by no means a new sign.

[6a]

These have been around Columbus for a couple years now.  It's one of those designs where I saw it and thought "now why haven't they been doing it this way all along?"

[FreewayDan]

I-10 in Lake Charles has these signs located at a sharp curve:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=lake+charles&hl=en&ll=30.244776,-93.18228&spn=0.005876,0.026157&hnear=Lake+Charles,+Calcasieu,+Louisiana&gl=us&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=30.244773,-93.182284&panoid=JSH-KNXMPUT0AawhWOBXAw&cbp=11,30.34,,0,-3.62

Lake Shore Drive in Chicago has them as well:
http://goo.gl/maps/Ro7L

In Houston, the advisory speed is separated from the curve and tipping truck:

100_0254 by FreewayDan, on Flickr

Ramps to I-610 North Loop from northbound U.S. 59 by FreewayDan, on Flickr

[abc2VE]

Purcell Road, near Manassas VA has had these since 2007ish, and is notorious for being very narrow, with a few sharp turns, steep hills  and localized flooding.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=manassas+va&hl=en&ll=38.690601,-77.432048&spn=0.009563,0.021136&hnear=Manassas,+Virginia&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=38.690674,-77.431983&panoid=3_8TKRGcxMOEyNbsdGnJKw&cbp=12,258.76,,0,22.84

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=manassas+va&hl=en&ll=38.690836,-77.431855&spn=0.009496,0.021136&hnear=Manassas,+Virginia&t=m&layer=c&cbll=38.690909,-77.431797&panoid=PWLKDARi6-3WtSsU6sTdCg&cbp=12,34.99,,0,9.87&z=16

[kphoger]

Makes more sense than this setup near here:

Here is the view from a four-way stop.  That's right, every single driver approaching this curve is coming from a stop, yet gets a 30 mph advisory tab.  Wouldn't want to speed up to 40 mph in ten yards, after all.
http://goo.gl/maps/M7hm

In contrast, here is the view from the other direction, where traffic has been going in a straight line at 45 mph for ¾ mile.  No speed advisory tab.  Where did it go?  Who knows?  If it had been part and parcel with the curve sign, it wouldn't have gone anywhere.
http://goo.gl/maps/nFFY

[cpzilliacus]

I have heard this sign (Google Street View) on the Outer Loop of I-495 (Capital Beltway) as it approaches the merge with I-270Y in North Bethesda, Maryland called a "we're not kidding" sign.

[national highway 1]

Here's an example, rarely found in Australia, on the Great Ocean Road, in Victoria:

Meanwhile, across the Tasman in New Zealand, AFAIK I believe they are used a little, as evidenced in these signing plans:

A more extreme example:

In Houston, the advisory speed is separated from the curve and tipping truck:

Ramps to I-610 North Loop from northbound U.S. 59 by FreewayDan, on Flickr

Larger verison of these signs:

I guess this version used in Australia and New Zealand is a lot bigger, usually placed in pairs like gateposts before an upcoming sharp curve:

(speed is in km/h)

[deathtopumpkins]

Several of the Hampton Roads cities have begun using these signs, as has VDOT I believe. Can't recall seeing them anywhere else though, and certainly not anywhere up here.

[JREwing78]

I'm not a fan because the additional small sign is a cue that there's a specific speed deemed safe, v.s. a general bend in the road requiring no slowdown. Having the speed in the sign requires someone to spend more mental energy looking at the sign v.s. the road.

It really hasn't tripped me up, but I could see how it would.

[deathtopumpkins]

I'm not a fan because the additional small sign is a cue that there's a specific speed deemed safe, v.s. a general bend in the road requiring no slowdown. Having the speed in the sign requires someone to spend more mental energy looking at the sign v.s. the road.

It really hasn't tripped me up, but I could see how it would.

If anything I think looking at the number and arrow on ONE sign instead of the traditional TWO signs would actually require LESS mental energy. You can look at it and get all the information once, rather than "oh there's a curve ahead" *looks down at the next sign* "ah, advisory speed 45".

[kphoger]

Both systems are better than having no advisory speed posted at all, which is the norm in México.  However, I find it México to have a more reliable distinction between curve and elbow bends.

I personally prefer separate tabs; it just annoys me when they're not . . . perfect.

[codyg1985]

Hasn't made it to Alabama yet as far as I know, at least not widespread.

There is one on I-610 westbound in New Orleans right before you go through the City Park. It isn't on Google Street View, though.