"U.S. Officials Push for Serious Tone on Highway Signs, But States Resist"

The Federal Highway Administration released new guidance urging state transportation departments to avoid using humor and pop culture references on traffic-safety signs that may confuse or distract drivers, but clarified that the manual does not ban such elements entirely. Some state departments, like Arizona's, have expressed disappointment with the guidelines, while others, such as Colorado's, believe that well-written messages can achieve both clarity and humor. Research on the effectiveness of humorous traffic-safety signs is mixed, with some studies suggesting that they command more attention from drivers, while others argue for simplicity and universality in messaging.