# AHEAD STOP: do drivers really read from bottom to top? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 22, 2009, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072 "2009-09-22T13:02:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/1 "2009-09-22T13:02:51Z")
Around here, painted notices on the road warning of an upcoming stop sign usually read … AHEAD STOP I think it’s assumed that a driver will read the word that’s closest to them first, and thus read “STOP” before “AHEAD”. I never do that, though; instead, I see b oth words at the same time, so to my eyes it registers as “AHEAD STOP”. Am I in the minority in reading such pavement markings that way? Do most drivers really instinctively read pavement markings from bottom to top? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/2 "2009-09-22T13:16:57Z")
I read traffic signs from the top down. That sign is just silly. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/3 "2009-09-22T13:38:25Z")
I’ve seen those signs, and I agree it’s stoopid. If I look ahead on the road and see words painted there, I’ll be reading from top (farthest away from me) to bottom (nearest), same as I do in every other context. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/4 "2009-09-22T13:47:09Z")
Those started appearing around Spain years ago. I still have to meet a single person who reads them bottom-up. The ones saying GOZA ZARA (which are close to Zaragoza, a large town which acts as the local supermall for people in a large area) can literally be translated as “enjoy [Zara](http://www.zara.com/).” Talk about the pun writing itself… (warning, noisy link) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/5 "2009-09-22T13:54:35Z")
What if traffic is heavy enough that you can only read one word at a time? ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/6 "2009-09-22T14:34:49Z")
This is one of those things I have always thought was stupid. But it seems to be universal. Do they brainwash traffic engineers in school? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/7 "2009-09-22T15:46:24Z")
They do this in [New Zealand](http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=franz+josef+glacier+nz&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=14.985334,35.332031&ie=UTF8&ll=-43.393062,170.178877&spn=0.002245,0.004313&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=-43.392992,170.178804&panoid=nWX2MP9KMpA2cpTSkKC6Pw&cbp=12,159.19,,0,13.11) too, although in this example the words are spaced out enough that it kind of makes sense: BRIDGE LANE ONE Here in the UK we do it [sensibly](http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.509793,-0.074152&spn=0,359.999461&t=k&z=21&layer=c&cbll=51.509793,-0.074152&panoid=t3lcPkU4ykIZW2aob5hMcg&cbp=12,165.56,,0,13.84). (Although you could argue that “ONLY AHEAD” makes sense anyway 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/8 "2009-09-22T15:49:33Z")
I always liked the Yoda-fied ones: LANE IN STAY I suppose there are some people out there who read really slowly, and will only see one word at a time, but even as a kid I thought these silly. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/9 "2009-09-22T16:04:21Z")
I’ve always thought that “Stop Ahead” worked OK backwards. The most important word is “Stop” so if you read that first, you’ve got the gist of the warning. On the other hand, they could draw a red octagonal stop sign sign with the word Ahead right next to it. It would save a bunch of paint, fit on one line and be easier to read. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/10 "2009-09-22T16:35:36Z")
I actually saw a paper that somebody in a psych department (at MSU in Bozeman, MT) did on this topic. It seemed to have been a well-designed study, and she concluded that signs painted on the road surface in this “backwards” fashion were indeed perceived more readily. She had gotten permission to close off a local road, paint signs on it both ways, and test drivers. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/11 "2009-09-22T17:48:44Z")
This is exactly the same as American ambulances having “Ambulance” written in reverse. Look, guys, we can understand the word “Ambulance” when it appears in our mirror, even when reversed. It’s a fairly distinctive word, particularly when painted on the front of an ambulance. We get it. Anyone who can’t read the word “Ambulance” in reverse probably can’t read it in its proper orientation, either. ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/12 "2009-09-22T18:39:15Z")
My favourite: Only Turn Left. This one conveys the same meaning no matter what order you put the words in. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/13 "2009-09-22T21:10:47Z")
It took me ages to figure out why the bike path was telling me to “Turn in the Down Slow”. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/14 "2009-09-22T21:17:44Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > This is exactly the same as American ambulances having “Ambulance” written in reverse. > > Look, guys, we can understand the word “Ambulance” when it appears in our mirror, even when reversed. It’s a fairly distinctive word, particularly when painted on the front of an ambulance. We get it. > > Anyone who can’t read the word “Ambulance” in reverse probably can’t read it in its proper orientation, either. **Alessan** , I was told a long time ago by a EMT that they painted it backwards so that dyslexic people reading it in a mirror would be able to read it better… But I would think that the big red cross and horn and flashing headlights would be a dead giveaway… :smack: I don’t know if the guy was BSing me or not. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/15 "2009-09-22T21:32:39Z")
I always figured it was for night-time purposes. You might only see one word at first in the headlights, and STOP is much more important than AHEAD. Gives you an extra bit of time to react. ---
**Author:** ![BorgHunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/16 "2009-09-22T21:32:52Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > But I would think that the big red cross and horn and flashing headlights would be a dead giveaway… :smack: Ambulances generally have a [blue star](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Life) on them, not a red cross. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/17 "2009-09-23T00:24:51Z")
> [@GoodOmens](#): > > I always figured it was for night-time purposes. You might only see one word at first in the headlights, and STOP is much more important than AHEAD. Gives you an extra bit of time to react. Yes. This or fog has always been my assumption. You don’t actually need the sign in times of clear visibility; there’s an actual stop sign for that. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/18 "2009-09-23T00:50:53Z")
Nearly all these signs are painted so that you see all the words at the same time, so it doesn’t work. The problem is that they should paint them bigger and farther apart, so you see the first word much sooner, and you see them one word at a time (like a Burma Shave ad :)) ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/19 "2009-09-23T02:25:14Z")
I’ve noticed them, too. There are quite a few on the toll road on the way to my parents house in Illinois. I always read them from top down, unless I’m in bumper to bumper traffic and can only SEE one word at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072/20 "2009-09-23T06:27:52Z")
In Australia we have: LANE ONE FORM I will join the chorus to say that it’s stupid. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahead-stop-do-drivers-really-read-from-bottom-to-top/511072.md?page=2)