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The US Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a new mandate banning witty messages on changeable road signs. The FHWA updated its "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices," specifying that traffic safety messages should adhere to criteria such as being "simple, direct, brief, legible, and clear."
This move eliminates the use of humorous or tongue-in-cheek messages on road signs, a practice that has gained popularity in recent years. Amusing messages like "Horns Up, Phones Down, It Can Wait," "Only Rudolph Should Drive Lit," and "Santa Sees You When You're Speeding" will no longer be permitted.
The FHWA's decision comes as part of a broader effort to maintain a focus on straightforward and unambiguous safety messages. The previous practice of incorporating humor into road signs, often solicited from the public, is now being replaced by a more standardized and serious approach to enhance clarity and adherence to safety guidelines.