Experts on the subject, the federal government is demanding road signs be more boring
People laugh at the safety signs. For years, the electronic boards above Mississippi highways have glowed with words that remind drivers to be careful, but also, to smile.
“Obey traffic laws,” one warned in December, “and avoid a Blue Christmas.”
“A heavy foot,” another read, “will lead to an empty wallet.”
But soon, they will be gone.
The federal government plans to ban jokes from signs in all 50 states because it argues pop culture references and wit in the name of safety can defeat that purpose entirely. The signs can distract drivers, the government says, so the agency that controls the nation’s highways is now asking all messages be simple, clear and speak only of crashes, weather or delays – without puns.
“Safety was always the priority,” said Michael Flood, a public information officer at the Mississippi Department of Transportation and proud author of several signs. But, he said, “We do have some fun with it.”
Their fun can continue until 2026, when the ban begins. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration, which issued the changes in an updated 1,161-page manual in December, argues drivers might ignore signs entirely if their messages don’t give information on immediate road conditions. People could also misunderstand jokes or slogans, the manual says, and humor can steal focus from busy highways.
Flood said the signs were always meant to keep drivers safe. Mississippi began its jokes after several other states in 2018, and staff at the state Department of Transportation planned for seasons like Christmas or the NFL playoffs months in advance.
In recent years, the agency asked Mississippi for help. Over 900 people submitted ideas for the Christmas-themed signs in December, and Flood and others rated their favorites and thinned the list down to 12.
They also write their own jokes. During the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Flood came up with one about the Big Ten Conference, which had not yet announced return-to-play. “Be like the Big 10,” Flood wrote, “Stay home and avoid gatherings.” Soon he got calls from reporters in Ohio and Michigan. The sign went viral.
“We really get into them here,” he said. “We have a good time with it and try and be real witty and clever.”
Flood said the department will follow the new rules.
“It’s fun to come up with these clever messages,” he said. But “the goal, ultimately, is to make sure everyone gets where they’re going safely.”
