US to ban humorous electronic messages on highways

The Federal Highway Administration has given states two years to implement all changes outlined in new 1,100-page manual released in December 2023.This manual includes regulations that explain how signs and other traffic control devices are regulated.

Administration officials said electronic signs with unclear meaning, pop culture references or funny messages will be banned in 2026 because they could be misunderstood or distract drivers.

The agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, said signs should be “simple, straightforward in meaning, concise, legible and clear” and used only for important information, such as warning drivers about severe weather conditions and traffic delays.

Seat belt reminders and warnings about the dangers of speeding or breaking traffic rules are also permitted.

Among those that will be disappearing are messages such as “Use Yah Blinkah” in Massachusetts; “Visiting in-laws? Slow down, get there late,” from Ohio; “Don’t drive Star Spangled Hammered,” from Pennsylvania; “Hocus pocus, drive with focus” from New Jersey; and “Hands on the wheel, not your meal” from Arizona.

There are more than 300 electronic signs above highways in Arizona. For the past seven years, the state Department of Transportation has held a competition for the funniest and most creative messages.