{"id":7330,"date":"2014-12-30T11:50:50","date_gmt":"2014-12-30T16:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smartsignblog.com\/blog\/?p=7330"},"modified":"2025-03-21T00:30:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T04:30:29","slug":"finding-meaning-road-signs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smartsign.com/blog\/finding-meaning-road-signs\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding meaning in seemingly meaningless road signs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether through symbols or words, signs are meant to convey information. It’s what they do. So what does it mean when a sign seems…meaningless? That\u2019s what the author of this article<\/a> wondered when he spotted a few indecipherable road signs in upstate New York.<\/p>\n

\"road

The confusing road sign in question. Image via Slate<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

As it turns out, the signs aren’t so meaningless after all. Highway crews can read them just fine and use them to work on the roads. The signs simply aren’t meant for regular drivers\u2014though motorists who spot them are more likely to be confused than to make the assumption it’s safe to ignore them.<\/p>\n

While those signs appear to offer too little information, many of these examples<\/a> offer too much. Drivers can’t figure these out either, with their mishmash of arrows and contradictory messages. A sign isn’t very effective when it creates more confusion than clarity.<\/p>\n

Then, there are the funny signs like these<\/a>, asking people not to throw stones (but only at that particular sign) and thanking people for simply noticing a sign. Was some transportation worker really just going for a laugh? Are the signs even real?<\/p>\n

These signs take ridiculous to a new level, depicting a winged deer, directing visitors to the \u201cMammoth Restroom,\u201d and instructing people not to fall down and to \u201cBeware of Missing Foot,\u201d for example. Most appear to be legitimate and many seem to be the result of misguided language translations\u2014though you never can tell now that Photoshop\u2019s in the picture.<\/p>\n

When signs don\u2019t do their jobs properly, people sometimes get angry\u2014as this woman<\/a> did when a painted message included a misspelling of a common (and, frankly, simple-to-spell) word. Drivers have every right to be irritated when they\u2019re fined for disobeying the rules set out by unclear signs<\/a>, as these motorists claim regarding a traffic diversion in London.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, people can also use sign-related mistakes to their advantage. This guide<\/a> suggests one way to get out of a parking ticket is to \u201cgather evidence,\u201d by taking pictures of signs that are covered and can’t be read. Take that recommendation a step further with photos of signs that are misspelled, contradictory, or just plain confusing, and it stands to reason you could have a pretty good case.<\/p>\n

Clearly common sense is called for when making signs and posting them, as well as attempting to obey them. But no matter how outlandish the message, it’s wise to heed a sign’s warning if at all possible. When a sign claims conditions up ahead could send your wheelchair directly into an alligator\u2019s jaws<\/a>, consider another route. If instructed to look under your vehicle for penguins,<\/a> don\u2019t take any chances\u2014just do it.<\/p>\n

And if there\u2019s a missing foot<\/a> to beware of somewhere in the vicinity, laugh if you must. Then, thank goodness you’ve been forewarned.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whether through symbols or words, signs are meant to convey information. It’s what they do. So what does it mean when a sign seems…meaningless? That\u2019s what the author of this article wondered when he spotted a few indecipherable road signs in upstate New York. As it turns out, the signs aren’t so meaningless after all. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":7332,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[120],"tags":[464,462,463,355],"class_list":["post-7330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-funny","tag-confusing-signs","tag-parking-space","tag-road-signs","tag-symbols"],"yoast_head":"\nFinding meaning in seemingly meaningless road signs | SmartSign Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Seemingly meaningless road signs actually serve an important purpose to select motorists.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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