Signs, Signs, Everywhere There's Signs - Part 1, Misguided or Unnecessary signs

I have a problem with signs–mostly because many signs are unnecessary, some lie, some are confusing, and some are mis-placed. And my overall–there’s too many signs littering our landscape.

In this posting I’ll share some misguided or unnecessary signs.

Note that this is in a church parking lot. Note also that while STOP signs are red and white because it’s dangerous if one doesn’t stop at a STOP sign, this sign is black and white even though it is just as lethal to go against the direction of the arrow.

This is a sign that just plain lies. There is never just one way that one can travel on a road. There are several ways, including opposite this arrow (which I have done and it was scary).

I think we need to replace ONE WAY signs with a big green arrow that points in one direction and says: GO THIS WAY AND YOU’LL LIKELY HAVE A GOOD DAY. And under it, a sign with a red arrow pointing in the opposite direction that says: GO THIS WAY AND YOU MIGHT DIE. That would be much more clear. And truthful, too.

Now, I’m toodling down a country road with my best bud, Brenda, when I see this sign, telling me to keep right over hills. Is this really necessary? It’s a two-lane road and I keep to the right–in my line– regardless of whatever’s ahead.

This is an unnecessary sign.

“Bridge May Be” Icy signs are found in front of most bridges in Michigan. And they should all go.

See, I’ve lived in Michigan most of my life and I know that roads may be ICY when it’s below freezing and ergo, bridges might get icy, too. So why do we need signs in front of every single bridge in Michigan? I’m guessing MDOT got sued after some poor slob got a boo-boo when he or she was going too fast over a bridge. Should we–and the landscape–have to suffer?

But IF we have to leave these signs for our sue-happy society, let’s add “OR NOT” signs on the other side of each bridge just for fun. BRIDGE MAY BE ICY followed by OR NOT on the other side of the bridge would make a drive much more enjoyable.

Other Michigan bridges have BRIDGE ICES BEFORE ROAD signs. Many are on highways–where I’m allowed to drive 70-75 mph–and by the time I ponder if I might ice before trees ice before bridges ice before roads, I’m over the bridge and on my way. These signs frustrate me because I don’t know what I’m supposed to do about what ices before something else. So I ignore all of these signs…which makes them unnecessary.

In New York, they use “ICY PAVEMENT ZONE” signs. Under the sign shown here it says “Next 2 miles.” So am I supposed to slow down, then check my odometer and, two miles later, speed back up again? Who does that?

Instead of signs in front of every bridge telling us a BRIDGE MAY BE ICY or BRIDGE ICES BEFORE ROAD, or having to keep track of the distance after an “ICY PAVEMENT ZONE,” how about we educate people about slowing down when it’s icy and let Darwin take it from there? Or, if we have to have signs, how about we do what they do in New Zealand–show a car going amuck “WHEN FROSTY.” That suggests the effect frosty or icy conditions have. But even better? SLOW DOWN WHEN FROSTY, ICY, RAINY, FOGGY….

Here’s another unnecessary sign I saw in New York: one identifying where rocks have already fallen. “FALLING rocks” are much more worthy of a sign. But let’s remove signs indicating that rocks have already fallen.

This is one of my faves–NO PARKING ON ANY STREET. I do appreciate the time span during which I cannot park on any street, but over what distance does this apply?

Under that sign is NO THRU TRUCKS. I’ve seen semi-trucks, delivery trucks, pick-up trucks, and dump trucks but never a thru truck. If you have photos of a thru truck, please send them to me.

Here’s another unnecessary sign. The length of the street here is pretty much as shown, and that’s a basketball backboard in the background, so it’s not like one can generate a whole bunch of speed and hurt oneself. Is a DEAD END sign really necessary here?

I’ll end with this–a series of signs at a park. The sign on the right tells us when the park closes, which is helpful only if you go in this direction (it’s a huge park). On the left it says VEHICLES MUST REMAIN IN PARKING AREA. Why not make the fence a little longer so cars can’t go that way? Beyond that: BICYCLES USE CAUTION WHEN APPROACHING OTHERS. Clearly, there are unruly bicycles out there, but really? In the distance is: CAUTION STEEP SLOPE. Where’s the adventure in that? And where’s the punctuation after CAUTION?

It’s no wonder people don’t pay attention to signs–there’s too many of them.