Despite new recommendations to axe funny road signs, Delaware’s roadway humor is here to stay.
Nationwide reports of a ban on overhead electronic signs with references to pop culture were widely circulated in January due to the latest edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Controls for Streets and Highways, from the United States Federal Highway Administration, that released on Dec. 1.
According to the manual, which includes a change in rules governing how signs and other traffic control devices are regulated, road signs with references to pop culture, intended to be funny or with obscure meanings can be misunderstood or distracting to drivers.
Now the administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has since clarified the new guidelines to say that what was once thought to be a ban going into effect in 2026 is just a strong suggestion.
In the manual, the Federal Highway Administration states that road signs should be “simple, direct, brief, legible and clear” and used only for important information like sharing news about inclement weather and traffic delays, reminding people to wear seat belts and warning drivers about accidents and the dangers of speeding or driver impairment.