***EPILEPSY WARNING! Lots of flashing lights!***
if you are sensitive to flashing lights, TURN BACK NOW!
me may try to rework this at some point
various postlingtons about road signs from discord, tumblr, etc, and so on
[note: i'm doing my best adapting vertical messages to horizontal viewing.]
i made 3
(message is just something i came up with in 10 seconds)
[Imagine this would be used in an 11' 8" Bridge situation. Clearly you need to really get people's attention for some of them to listen.]
i was wondering what flash pattern of led would get the most attention
yellow is what it logically would be since is warning
white is for get most attention also stop now and do not enter are regulatory messages
red is for conveying the severity of the situation and also stop and do not enter are red
for example, the west virginia turnpike has white flashing lights on support pillars at toll plazas
you cant see it all that well but its the best video of it i could find
https://youtu.be/O5pgw2q9Yws?si=3Anrm3RGCL0Kseiy&t=58 (skip to 0:58)
rrfb (the crosswalks with rapid flashing leds) are like this:
(though my local ones flash like this [the ones pictured are not my local ones]) (tis yet another connection between florida and ohio)
https://youtu.be/woZJtSD4q3s?si=sp9Mvp01Y9VhwnB2&t=10 (skip to 0:10)
[update: lightguard just doesnt fear god and doesnt listen to the mutcd, florida did it correct:
Except as provided in Paragraph 8 of this Section, during each 800-millisecond flashing sequence, the left and right RRFB indications shall operate using the following sequence:
A. The RRFB indication on the left-hand side shall be illuminated for approximately 50 milliseconds.
B. Both RRFB indications shall be dark for approximately 50 milliseconds.
C. The RRFB indication on the right-hand side shall be illuminated for approximately 50 milliseconds.
D. Both RRFB indications shall be dark for approximately 50 milliseconds.
E. The RRFB indication on the left-hand side shall be illuminated for approximately 50 milliseconds.
F. Both RRFB indications shall be dark for approximately 50 milliseconds.
G. The RRFB indication on the right-hand side shall be illuminated for approximately 50 milliseconds.
H. Both RRFB indications shall be dark for approximately 50 milliseconds.
I. Both RRFB indications shall be illuminated for approximately 50 milliseconds.
J. Both RRFB indications shall be dark for approximately 50 milliseconds.
K. Both RRFB indications shall be illuminated for approximately 50 milliseconds.
L. Both RRFB indications shall be dark for approximately 250 milliseconds. ]
i have assembled 9 different patterns [i told you there was a lot of flashing images] [this is the smallest i can crop it]
pattern 1
normal beacon (the thing what isnt an individual led)
pattern 2
what led signs (signs with leds around border) normally do in my experience
pattern 3
constant flash
pattern 4
a couple quick flashes then pause
pattern 5
a bunch of quick flashes then pause
pattern 6
singular flash with large pause
pattern 7
like a bunch of pattern 6es strung together
pattern 8
single flash with long long pause like certain strobe lights do
pattern 9
unpredicatble (actually the pause keeps getting longer)
[idk why emergency vehicles can get away with it but some of these patterns probably fail the "shall not be more than 5 flashes per second, to avoid frequencies that might cause seizures" test]
[which one do you think its most effective? let me know in the comments below, murder that like button, obliterate that subscribe button, slit that notification bell's throat, share with your group of uninterested friends, and go give your personal information to the sketchy sponsor.]
??????? [translated: "Is... is that a Fairfield street name sign at the bottom?"]
!!! [translated: "IT IS!"]
did i just accidentally stumble upon where fairfiled got their signs???
im not gonna say theyre exact
but its pretty fucking close
it has to be somewhere in ohio at the very least
https://www.southernmfg.com/modules/evolvecms/upload/SouthernMfgCatalog2014.pdf
theres only so many places in ohio where they use iisns [internally illuminated street name signs] with the OH-4 shield, city seal, and name "Dixie Hwy", at the 5300 blcok
also i dont think that other place exists
well hell what are the chances of that
probably pretty medium
i wonder why its not exactly the same
i swear thats theskdthjkerstjdf
[translated: "I swear that looks like the signs directing you towards the hospital in Fairfield"]
https://www.southernmfg.com/illuminated-signs [Southern Manufacturing]
https://www.temple-inc.com/products/internally-illuminated-led-signs [Temple Inc]
are from florida and alabama respectively
i cant tell if these companies are both ohio coded or if ohio is american south coded
cause like
southernmfg literally has versions of signs i can see after a 30 minute walk or 10 minute drive away from my current location
i passed by their sign or one oddly reminiscent of it not even 3 hours ago
*vague motions*
hamilton ohi[o]
you cant make this shit up
i mean
you defintiely can
but why would you bother
also it maeks logical sense
i-75 is a direct link between ohio and florida and no other places
but really its a stragiht shot
its proabalbly pretty easy to get that up here
theres so many florida license plate cars up here its insane
also neither company knows how pdf and images work
so pixels
me sees it
that's them [Temple Inc]
woah
an d forresdt park
[translated: "Forest Park, OH, also uses Temple Inc signs, just like Hamilton, OH"]
clearview
(replying to "???????")
if i look closely, squint my eyes, and bludgeon myself with a hammer, i can barely maybe make out the text "FAIRFIELD OHIO CITY OF OPPORTUNITY" on the seal [(the Fairfield city motto is "City of Opportunity")]
also [finding other signs featured in the Southern Manufacturing product guide]
this one was pain
this one also a tad difficult because thats not how road signs work (Event Center is a street name, but this sign isn't at the intersection with Event Center)
fuck this one too the street name signs are all sorts of fucked up around here
everywhere tamiami tr goes pain follows
and im not convinced this one is real
if it is
then fuck you, municipality
there are so many bourbon streets
and all except for the new orleans one are stupid little trailer park roads
and the new orleans one doesnt have this [sign]
oerkljdstgpoesejdtoiflhk;wehjs]pe
tdhfsUJESDIOLTJOREISDJTOISDJGT
it also appears with some other styles in the eoiasjdtoistdljtoiehjsiodltfjosdiltujfosilreutjdrsolifeusoditlujorlsujtoirlds southern manufacturing
↓ (2025/07/17 - four months later) ↓
UPDATE!!!!
https://www.nationalssc.com/traffic-signs/street-name-signs
i believe THIS is the actual source of the [Fairfield] street name signs
National Sign and Signal [NS&S]
though i will say i think i was right in concluding that Hamilton has Temple Inc signs, due to [irreconcilable] similarities between jack warner pkwy (confirmed temple inc) and erie blvd
at first i though it might be multilink, since it looks quite similar and is made in ohio (vs. temple inc alabama), but the electrical hookup is a dead giveaway they arent the same
also some support structures on the back
and the screw pattern
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2805377,-84.5015082,3a,39.6y,341.51h,134.97t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sDS3uDn4DYRmgKdj6Lq4_MQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-44.96700601371751%26panoid%3DDS3uDn4DYRmgKdj6Lq4_MQ%26yaw%3D341.5123567036935!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcxMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D the signs in Forest Park here are also Temple Inc, and make even more sense being Clearview
same story with this guy
though interestingly, the signs on OH-4 By Pass dont exactly follow this [(the one in the presentation)] standard
no logo on the side
slightly differrent front fascia design
different screws
different lighting method (almost warmish greenish old ass leds that are starting to go out and you can see the individual diodes, unlike any others in fairfield)
mixed case suffixes
all installed in the same project ~2013
jesus new york
right off the highway
sign overload
fuck its midnighty andasoithjfgsldg
i need slippes
that
ish
redoing some local road signs
i feel like the late 90s (when this road was built) is a bit late for button copy signs, but what do i know
see all those circles around the letters and stuff? thats reflective buttons
not button copy but still could use with an update
also while im near i thought id redo this one too
im almost certain the ones i came up with (either brown or green) isnt 100% compliant, but at least it isnt "NORTH END BALL PARK to the right, or else you're getting a ticket!" regulatory black on white
idk if you can tell, but this thing is massive, and i was divided on whether to keep the arrow they used or use the other arrow thingy
about ye long from the intersection
simple as, i dont feel like making the alt veersion but replace "Fair Ave" with "Mill Rd"
well
no
actually
mill rd is a stupid street no one cares about, but soon after is erie blvd, which is less stupid and poeple do care about
plus mill rd is not a signalized intersection (no traffic light), so you couldnt just replace "Fair Ave"
erie blvd is signalized, but i feel it'd be confusing for the sign to say "NEXT INTERSECTION" and "NEXT SIGNAL"
[alternatively, all other signs could say "NEXT INTERSECTION" to jive well, or unsignalized intersections don't get advance street name signs]
and finally for this stretch of rd, do the "Fair Ave" but "Ida Ave" and instead of "SIGNAL" do "INTERSECTION"
the what
apparently its a place but that couldve been communicated a little better
"CHAINS REQUIRED NEXT XX MILES" or something
or just say "CHAINS REQUIRED" no clauses
you can put an r78 sign at the other end
[(CA MUTCD)]
yeah you'll be able to read all that going 80 in a 65
[something about this sign is just funny / ridiculous to me. the casual "if you're truck is fucked, keep left".]
i think to the left is a stretch of highway california hasnt used since the 80s
cause they're serious about agricultural inspection
so serious that if youre strategic about what road you use you can bypass it completely
me finds
[(CA MUTCD)]
↓ (the next day) ↓
oh my god california is pathetic
fucking
look at this
white on black for a guide sign? its not the 1950s anymore, get with the program
but
it was bright green in 2021
one year later in 2022
its sun damage.
SUN DAMAGE.
IN FUCKING CALIFORNIA. [(I'd think they would've solved this issue by now.)]
THAT MAKES THE GREEN SIGN BLACK.
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK CALIFORNIA
I HAVE SEEN SIGNS FROM THE 1970S THAT ARE STILL GREEN
you know what's worse?
by my estimation, these signs were installed in the last 10 years
California is either the most hostile environment for signs ever
or uses only the weakest materials
it's not even like its to the same level as other signs!
this sign not a mile away has been there since time immemorial and still looks
ancient, not new by any means, but not fucking BLACK FROM SUN DAMAGE
most california signs end up looking like this
faded, peeling, ancient garbage
and i dont know if its because they are weak shit, in the world's most hostile area, or just fucking ancient
caltrans isnt known for speed
also im not the only one who noticed this garbage
also slightly unrelated but they put the dash in the wrong spot
it used to be correct
i think we should get rid of HAWK beacons
no one understands them
very confusing
no one listens to them
pedestrians don't bother with 'em
flashes red like a railroad crossing (big no-no)
[Also, it's dark on approaching it, which for most signals means "power cut, take extreme caution, treat like stop sign". Yes, I know it's technically a 'beacon', not a 'signal', but most beacons aren't designed and put up like normal traffic signals, with three signal sections, two signal faces, a backplate with yellow edge, red signals, etc. Yes, stop beacons exist, but those are emphasizing existing stop signs, they are not themselves the command.]
[note: this is not an original opinion. see also: https://youtu.be/d-5A2RxgvOc?si=9s650VVHF79osCzQ]
instead, use a normal traffic light
well
two options
1. RRFB
PROS:
decently respected
effective at getting drivers attention
CONS:
not legally enforceable
[Now that I think about it, wouldn't a "STOP HERE FOR PEDESTRIANS" sign fix that?]
2. Normal traffic light
PROS:
very well respected
effective
CONS:
can leave drivers waiting for a while after pedestrian crossed
so i propose a different way to program the lights
Phase 1: Normal, no peds
light is green, red hand says fuck you to pedestrians
Phase 2: Pedestrian presses "please let me cross" button
light immediately goes yellow, then red
Phase 3: Pedestrian crosses
light stays red, pedestrian walk signal lets peds cross for, say, 7 seconds, before flashing red hand and 10 second timer
Phase 4: Pedestrian maybe done crossing
light flashes yellow for 10-20 seconds in case any pedestrians still in crosswalk, ped hand solid red, after time done, light goes green back into phase 1
optionally accompanied by one of these signs
timing of phases can be tweaked depending on needs
pressing the "please let me walk" button again after activation will reset back to 7 seconds (for example, if a large group is crossing and it starts doing the flashing red hand, you can press the button again and it will go back to the full walk signal)
↓ (2025/09/28 - six months later) ↓
NOTE ON [my proposed signal programming]:
Ideally, with this setup, there would be a separate indication for the flashing and steady yellows (4 signals instead of 3), plus blah blah it could be revised
so instead i propose an idea that already exists and its given a small mention in the MUTCD
here is a gif of what it could look like
no greens
green is instead a flashing yellow, to warn at all times of potential pedestrians crossing
when the push button is pushed like a button, the signals turn solid yellow, then red
then the pedestrians are allowed to cross (walking white guy time and countdown may be longer in real applications)
also i dont think i knew it at the time, but there is a specific sign for extra time
example of signal with flashing yellow, steady yellow, and steady red indications
[this is a collection of miscellaneous signpostings, not much of a theme or narrative]
thats pretty neat
you can see back in 2008 when they were testing out the new crosswalk thing
lights in the roadway like [↓ this ↓]
you can see their trucks down the road too
today the crosswalk has a normal rapid flash beacon
[the experiment must not've worked out]
↓ (topic change) ↓
↓ (topic change) ↓
fuck you hamilton ohio you fucking cunts
this stop sign across the road has been up since time immemorial
and when they put up new signs and had a chance to correct their mistake (NO STOP SIGNS PUT LIKE THAT), they slapped a street name sign on it
↓ (topic change) ↓
BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD
NUH UH
do like this
[contrary to any austin's belief, this sign does not have to be exclusively used for traffic that rejoins. it can also be used for traffic that changes direction and goes somewhere else.]
↓ (topic change) ↓
ancient ass signs
(they be replaced by now)
circa late 1960s
"bad ass" as in "this ass is horrible!"
then they replace with clearview not-as-bad-but-still-not-quite-good signs
and less than 10 years later theyve been replaced with better but-still-not-perfect-and-with-a-new-problem-of-one-arrow-for-two-lanes-plus-back-to-basic-bitch-boring-bullshit-highway-gothic-#justiceforclearviewhwy
really i think theyre supposed to be more like this
but what do i know
↓ (topic change) ↓
i mean all ohio residents are, right?
[NOTE – Most MUTCD Monday posts start with the following text:
"MUTCD Monday is an unscheduled weekly post where I review a (usually) nonstandard road sign that I'm (usually) criticizing.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD, "defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices [road signs and stuff] on all streets, highways, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and site roadways open to public travel".[1]"
This text has been cut from all following MUTCD Mondays because I think you get the gist.]
[NOTE 2 – Not all MUTCD Monday posts will be copied here, only the ones that actually say anything.]
This week, I review a sign I saw at the antique mall.
EW, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? This is awful. Surely produced by the Public Works Department in haste, combined with drug-induced panic, this sign finds an impressive number of ways to be awful.
Why is it GREEN ? It's a NO PARKING sign! It should be RED !
Why is the R smaller than every other letter?
What in God's name is that seven? Why did they use reflective scraps to make it?
I've never heard of Saint Maint. I think it's trying to say "street maintenance".
You aren't supposed to use periods in abbreviations.
When is "After 7AM"? It's always after 7 AM! When can I start parking there again?
What the fuck is the use case for this sign? Where would there be street maintenance every day that requires there to be no cars on the street after 7 AM?
The lack of a border is frankly the least of this sign's worries.
Everyone involved in making this sign or letting it be up for more than a millisecond should be ashamed of themselves. Better designs would be like [these]:
Simple, standard, easily understandable. You don't need to define why parking isn't allowed. If you really need to, you could probably write "STREET CLEANING" on there somewhere. Also, a clearly defined time frame on when you can't park. What a concept! Things could be so much better if people took five seconds to think about what the correct thing to do would be, rather than cooking up one of the worst signs I've ever seen.
Thank you for coming to my autism talk!
#mutcd #mutcd monday #road signs #autism #small rant #fhwa #antique mall #ohio valley antique mall
↓ (2025/01/10 - A few weeks later) ↓
UPDATE: I bought it.
This week, I review another sign I saw at the antique mall.
Why? Just why? Some light Googling internet searching later, I found out that this sign is from Columbus, Ohio. They are everywhere, and they suck ass in the bad way.
Black border with red text and arrow? They should know better.
Why is "BUS STOP" smaller than "ONLY"? It's not even that much smaller! Why is it smaller to begin with?
Why is the arrow way off-center?
What the hell does "BUS STOP ONLY" mean? "You'll only ever be a bus stop. You'll never be a cargo loading zone. Not even a taxi stop" like bitch shut the fuck up, that stretch of curb can be whatever it wants to be.
A much better option would be a sign like these:
Simple and standard. Easily understandable. I personally would recommend the [first one], since they don't have a problem with using the bus icon.
Also, side note, why does the sign I found not have any holes in it? Is it new old stock? If so, why is it worn? Did they mount the sign via magic? Prayers? Tornadoes? I don't know.
Anyways, thank you for coming to my autism talk.
#mutcd #mutcd monday #road signs #autism #small rant #fhwa #antique mall #columbus #columbus ohio #ohio #ohio valley antique mall
↓ (2025/03/11 - A few months later) ↓
i was in Columbus and I saw fhe sign
its right there
trust me bro
This week, I am reviewing [and ranking] every state's State Route sign.
I spent six hours on [graphics] because I wasn't satisfied with the ones online, which is why this MUTCD Monday didn't come out on time.
Alabama
It's the state shape, a little boring (and strange when stretched out), but it's inoffensive, unlike most Alabama residents.
Alaska
I like the stars, and the italics is unique. The italics are a little too unprofessional, though. It almost looks like Comic Sans from far away.
Arizona
State shape. Boring, but passable.
Arkansas
Okay I'm already getting bored of the state shape shit. Arizona at least put "ARIZONA" on theirs. The sign is quite boring, which makes it a very good representation of Arkansas! Good job!
California
Unique! I like it. Nice green, simple, iconic. Though I do get the feeling that it thinks it's better than everyone else.
Colorado
Color! From Colorado! Nice change of pace from the welcome sign. I like the flag on it, since someone must've realized they couldn't go with the state shape since Colorado is just a rectangle. Not exactly too creative, but still nice.
Connecticut
Just because no one remembers you doesn't mean you need a forgettable State Route sign, Connecticut. It's just a fucking square. Boring as fuck.
Delaware
Same applies to you, Delaware, except you put so little effort into the sign that it's literally just the default template M1-5 sign from the MUTCD. Boring as fuck AND unoriginal.
Florida
Not bad! I like how they have the numbers intersecting the state outline. One of the only good things to come out of Florida.
Georgia
Standard state shape fair. Whatever. All the state shape ones are going in the same tier, in order of rank in education, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Illinois
Basic bitch white square with numbers and "ILLINOIS". Boring. At least it's identifiably Illinois, unlike some other signs on this list.
Indiana
WOW, just gonna copy Illinois so blatantly like that? With a narrower font to boot? We don't work with plagiarizers around here. F-.
Iowa
M1-5 template. To be fair, there's nothing good to represent Iowa. Doesn't stop it from boring the fuck out of me.
Kansas
AAAAAHH YELLOW-- sorry, a color other than white or black scared me. Haven't seen other colors since Colorado. It's unique! I like how it's a sunflower, since Kansas does sunflowers or whatever. Probably more interesting than infinite nothing, which is what Kansas is actually comprised of.
Kentucky
M1-5 template. To be fair... you know what, no. Kentucky had better options, like horses, fried chicken, Colonel Sanders, bluegrass, or plagiarism, but they went the lazy route instead.
Louisiana
Not sure why they needed "LA" on there, but whatever. Boring.
Maine
Fuck you.
Maryland
The line between "MARYLAND" and the number is weirdly thick. It's boring, but I wouldn't want to be the person in 1930 having to put the state flag on the sign.
Massachusetts
Fuck you too. FUCK I MISSPELLED MASAECHUBETES ON THE IMAGE [that I didn't include because it's easier to put each individual state route sign next to the review on here versus Tumblr]. Well, Masssailshfaksfdbsh doesn't deserve a correctly spelled name.
Michigan
... sure. I've seen worse and boringer.
Minnesota
OOO colors! Nice! I like it. I like how they went with white numbers instead of yellow numbers. Makes them pop out more, even though it's more effort.
Mississippi
M1-5 templates and those godforsaken squares are all going in a lower tier, in order of poverty rate.
Missouri
Misery. Boring. Whatever.
Montana
Copying Illinois but with a thick border. F+.
Nebraska
Neat. Probably painful in the sign shop with the intricate detail, but still neat.
Nevada
Sure does.
New Hampshire
Is that a face? That was supposed to be a joke, but it's true. Points taken away since the thing collapsed in 2003.
New Jersey
Just one more reason to [deny entry].
New Mexico
Neat! They could've just one with the standard bullshit, but they incorporated elements from their flag and stuff. Do wish the white was yellow, though.
New York
Different shape, I'll give them that.
North Carolina
A diamond? That's it? Boring. Next.
North Dakota
Boring, but inoffensive, unlike their old sign. *Note: I am not saying whether or not I think this offensive, just that it may have contributed towards its replacement.
Ohio
Being the biased, hypocritical bitch I am, I, an Ohio resident, think this looks nice. At the very least it looks fine. I will be putting it at the beginning of the state shape signs, regardless of it's rank in education.
Oklahoma
Florida but less cool. Next.
Oregon
Upside down Pou.
Pennsylvania
Still just a different shape, but it just feels Pennsylvanian. Good job! I hope that for the state bike route sign, they use the shape of a burning coal vain or Breezewood.
Rhode Island
The state is so small, they couldn't even fit their entire name on the sign, instead using initials!
South Carolina
Not bad! Giving off Minnesota vibes, but more SC.
South Dakota
The state looks really weird when it's been squished. Also, why is the Earth's curve rendered? To feel less rectangular? Also also, why is it green ? I know I'm getting bored of the black and white, but the black on white on green doesn't look that great.
Tennessee
A little better than the boringfest going on with Illinois & Co, but still eh. The state is so small and long it looks like a pencil. Also, not a fan of the font. Pity points for having a shape, though.
Texas
GOD DAMMIT TEXAS. They did it with the license plate, now they're doing it with the State Route sign. They have better options, but they downgrade to the black and white plain bullshit. The secondary State Route sign or whatever the fuck it's called is the Texas shape. While admittedly boring, it's still fucking awesome compared to this horseshit. F+-.
Utah
Quintessentially Utah, other than the Mormons.
Vermont
South Dakota should take notes. THIS is the correct way to do green and white. A little boring and doesn't scream "VERMONT" (well technically it does, but it doesn't feel Vermont), but it's better than boring template.
Virginia
Bigger Oregon.
Washington
I don't understand why literally everything has to be about George Washington, but it's okay I guess.
West Virginia
Plagiarism. F--.
Wisconsin
Collection of shapes, but I've seen worse. The point on that triangle looks like it'd give you a death trip, should you trip or stand on it.
Wyoming
Simple but nice. Wyoming.
District of Columbia
Yep, I put this at the end on purpose since it's not technically a state, definitely not because I didn't know D.C. had a State Federal District Route. I think DC-295 is also the only one they have. It's fine. Florida but more D.C. shaped.
Tier list:
Think I'm a hypocritical asshole for putting Ohio in front of the rest? Make your own tier list! https://tiermaker.com/create/state-route-signs-17763587
Thank you for coming to my autism talk! I'm impressed if you actually read any of that.
#mutcd #mutcd monday #road signs #small rant #fhwa #tier list #state route #m1-5 #us states #tiermaker