# Most unusual warning/traffic sign you've seen? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 25, 2002, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489 "2002-04-25T03:05:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/81 "2004-09-26T07:25:54Z")
When I was a kid we rode on a section of Mulholland Drive, which is sort of a ridge route along the Santa Monica Mountains. At one point we saw a sign that read “Pavement Ends.” I guess drivers were supposed to fear that the road would get smaller and smaller, and eventually the cars would fall into the ravine below! :eek: We live near that “27 mph” sign, on 182nd Street on either side of the underpass under the 405 freeway. An orange hazard sign on a freeway onramp read, “Closed Intermittently until April 31st.” ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/82 "2004-09-26T08:06:23Z")
Sounds to me like the “No Turns From 7 PM - 7 AM” stop signs mentioned earlier are local efforts to increase the number of tickets issued. San Diego does something similar: every once in a while you’ll see a traffic light that has a sign next to it that says “No right turn on red light” and lists times of the day during which you are not to turn right there (in California, for those who don’t know, it’s legal to turn right on a red light if it’s safe). I was told flat out by a(n off-duty) traffic cop that the sole purpose of the signs was to get more tickets written. Not a road sign, but the funniest bumper sticker I’ve seen in a long time: “No smoking unless you are on fire.” Also a slight irony value because of how many different things have been smoked in that car (I know the guy who owns it). Also not a sign, but here in Tucson there is at least one traffic light (Speedway & Alvernon? That’s off the top of my head, I don’t really remember where it is exactly, but I’m fairly certain it’s on Alvernon) that features two yellow right arrow lights, one on top of the other. Like, instead of “red, yellow, green” or “red, yellow, green, red right arrow, green right arrow”, it’s “red, yellow, green, yellow right arrow, yellow right arrow”. Only one of them is on at a time, it seems. I don’t understand at all. ---
**Author:** ![DrMemory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DrMemory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrMemory)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/83 "2004-09-26T15:19:01Z")
I think of the sign for “Pee-Pee” falls outside of Hilo on Da Big Island. Ya Ya, I Know it’s pronounced " Peh-ee Peh-ee"… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/84 "2004-09-26T15:26:08Z")
> [@fetus](#): > > Sounds to me like the “No Turns From 7 PM - 7 AM” stop signs mentioned earlier are local efforts to increase the number of tickets issued. The signs were one of the early feeble efforts to put a lid on the cruising scene that developed along lower Westheimer (the major traffic artery adjacent to my neighborhood) durine the late 1970s and early 1980s. My area (Montrose) of Houston is where the gay bars put down their roots in the '70s, and a gay cruise scene sprouted. This area had become Houston’s hippie mecca in the late '60s, replete with offbeat bars, head shops and big old houses full of people who didn’t know each other. Perhaps that atmosphere encouraged the gay bars - I don’t know; I’m no sociologist. By the early '70s, the combined presence of the hippies and the gays had produced a street scene. Before long there were hookers and dope peddlers working the action. Of course, it soon became the destination of choice for runaways. And then, in the mid-1970s, the high school kids discovered it. 50,000 teenagers would converge on the area every weekend night. By the early '80s the trip from Mandell to Montrose Boulevard on Westheimer, which I’d guess is less than half a mile, would take the better part of an hour, and you’d see quite the slice of life on the way. By then, naturally, the fundies were out in strength to battle the forces of evil. Adjoining neighborhoods’ dwellers soon became fed up with all the puckerin’, puking and pissing that was going on in their front yards and griped. The signs were meant to make it difficult for a cruiser to just make a block to get back to the object of his or her attention. They had no discernible effect. Eventually, and I don’t remember the year, the cops _did_ shut it down. Completely. They lined the street with cops, many in intimidating riot gear, and parked paddy wagons in parking lots. They set up card tables with computers in the left hand turn lane and had upstream cops radio them every license plate coming down the street (which they could do because traffic was crawling) and ran them for warrants. Hundreds of busts every night at first. It seems like it only took them about 6-8 weeks to kill it off. And it’s never come back. But that was almost twenty years ago, and we still have those damn signs all through the neighborhood. Makes it a pain sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/85 "2004-09-26T16:01:00Z")
On an interstate in Colorado, heading north towards Denver: BEWARE OF CREEPING FOG On a two-lane highway in Kansas, north of Salina: DRIVE CAREFULLY. NUCLEAR WARHEADS TRAVEL THESE ROADS :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/86 "2004-09-26T16:15:47Z")
On a rural road in Alberta: NO SERVICES OR RESIDENCES NEXT 137 km Translation: if you break down here, you’re screwed. ---
**Author:** ![rinni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@rinni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rinni)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/87 "2004-09-27T00:14:17Z")
I saw this sign yesterday. [![](https://craphound.com/images/funny_vancouver_sign.jpg) ](https://craphound.com/images/funny_vancouver_sign.jpg) Note: I didn’t take the picture and that’s not my site, I just searched Google for a picture of it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/88 "2004-09-27T00:31:16Z")
In Sweden [Fart Hinder](http://www.davidm.net/photo/summer2001/funstuff/fartHinder.jpg) made me think that Dolly Parton was lying in the road ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Bendarr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e56c9b/32.png) [@Bendarr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bendarr)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/89 "2004-09-27T00:53:12Z")
In a small town about 30 some miles nothwest of where I live now there is located in the hallway of a ground level retirement home a caution sign (Yellow diamond) with a picture of a elephant on it. There’s a reason for it. A number of years ago a small traveling carnival had arrived in town and setup in a local park. Well, a elephant decided that it was gonna take a stroll. Yup you guessed it! Right **THROUGH** the retirement home! Unfortunately the elephant was about 6 - 8 inches taller than the acoustic ceiling and left one heck of a mess as it went in one door, straight down the hall and out the other door. This incident occurred in the last half of the 1970’s I’m pretty sure since I remember seeing pics of it in one of the high school yearbooks. The sign was shortly put up in the hallway after the damage was repaired and I believe it’s still there. To the best of my knowlege no one was hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/90 "2004-09-27T01:08:24Z")
When I lived in Cyprus, around harvest time, there would be road signs saying ‘Caution! - roads slippery with grape juice’ ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/91 "2004-09-27T01:13:47Z")
There are some signs on rural roads in Quebec that are basically trying to say “Please be careful, lots of kids around here”. Only, instead of showing those stick-kids running off to the park with a basketball, they show a kid lying on the ground with cuts and torn clothing, like he’s been run over. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/92 "2004-09-27T01:18:36Z")
I was in Cape Breton a couple years ago, and everywhere there were signs that said “DRIVE CAREFULLY–WE LOVE OUR CHILDREN”. But I almost cracked up when I saw one that continued with “AND SENIORS”. Don’t ask me why, I just found it amusing. I still get a chuckle at deer crossing signs. Looks like the deer is dancing across the road. I’ve never seen a deer dancing, especially not in the middle of the road. And not a sign, but I once saw a school bus with a bumper sticker which stated “STUDENT DRIVER”. Good thing I wasn’t drinking anything. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/93 "2004-09-27T02:16:20Z")
Interesting. I’ve never unwittingly posted the same thing twice in one thread before… Speaking of “Watch out for children” signs: The city of Mississauga put up signs that read “Drive carefully… think of me” with a drawing of a little girl on a bicycle. Trouble was, it was a _little kid’s_ drawing, all stick-figure-y and distorted. And it was made small enough to fit on the sign, that you couldn’t quite tell what it was. I fully expect to see someone lose control of their car while they peer at the sign, trying to interpret the thing in the middle… ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/94 "2004-09-27T02:24:16Z")
[State Park.](http://www.funnysign.com/funnysign_011.htm) [From the side of a hazmat railcar.](http://www.funnysign.com/funnysign_028.htm) [My favorite: people in speeding wheelchairs will be fed to the crocodiles.](http://www.signslanguage.com/Ex20.html) (bottom of page) ---
**Author:** ![windin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/6f9a4e/32.png) [@windin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/windin)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/95 "2004-09-27T03:41:08Z")
We saw this today somewhere near the ongoing construction of the I70 and I75 interchange: MY MOMMY WORKS HERE PLEASE SLOW DOWN on the right. On the left was: MY DADDY WORKS HERE PLEASE SLOW DOWN It made us 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Stilettos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Red\_Stilettos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Stilettos)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/96 "2004-09-27T04:07:42Z")
In Atlanta, we have signs that just read “NO” in big red letters. They put them over turn lanes at intersections facing across the intersection. It’s suppoed to keep people in one turn only lane from going head on into the folks in the opposing turn only lane. I’m surprised they haven’t foudn more uses for it. It’s really an all-purpose sign. 😃 I was in a condo complex with a 7 mph speed limit. The speedometer in my car doesn’t go below 10. How was I supposed to go 7? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![rinni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@rinni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rinni)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/97 "2004-09-27T06:00:15Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > I was in Cape Breton a couple years ago, and everywhere there were signs that said “DRIVE CAREFULLY–WE LOVE OUR CHILDREN”. But I almost cracked up when I saw one that continued with “AND SENIORS”. Don’t ask me why, I just found it amusing. Ahh, that’s my home! I just left it. I miss seeing that sign, and others of its ilk. Mainly just posting to show Cape Breton love. ---
**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/98 "2004-09-27T06:10:03Z")
My fave was, “SLIPPERY WHEN FROSTY”. I’m not certain why. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/99 "2004-09-27T07:42:33Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Pardon me for posting, but I was wondering…what’s the most unusual warning or traffic sign anyone here has seen? The most unusual signs I’ve seen were a snowflake in a triangle, as a warning label on a tank of liquid Nitrogen, and a Canadian “Acid” label…showing a stick-figure hand turning into a stick-figure skeleton hand. > > As for traffic signs, the most unusual I can recall are both from Southern California…a “Tank Crossing” sign near a military base, and a sign with an\*\* “Illegal immigrants” crossing sign \*\*(Complete with stick figures dashing across the road) near the Mexico border. > > I’m sure someone can top these. Anyone? > > Ranchoth If you saw the flying baby sign (See bold in quote) then surely you saw the “Cruise Ships Use Next Exit” sign in San Diego? I lived ther for 9 years and never once saw that cruise ship that drives down I-5. I know the old parking structure at UCSD is gone now, but when I worked there, there was a sign in the parking lot that said: “Street level enforced 24 hours.” I once saw a sign in the mid west somewhere that look like a DOT sign, green & white that said: “Ignore this Sign” ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489/100 "2004-09-27T08:24:50Z")
One other. On the fence surrounding the NOAA complex near my house are signs posted every few feet that say: “Illegal tresspassing prohibited” If it was legal it wouldn’t be tresspassing, would it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unusual-warning-traffic-sign-youve-seen/105489.md?page=6)