PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has updated its manual of regulations governing street and highway signs, and those made with pop culture references or intended humor are no longer allowed.
It means classic quips made on New Jersey signs — “Nice car. Did it come with turn signals?” — and PennDOT holiday warnings — “Only Rudolph should drive lit.” — are banned from use beginning in 2026.
New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti told KYW in November that the FHWA believed the signs could be misunderstood by drivers.
"FHWA a year ago was concerned that the signs may have been too edgy or too distracting,” she said.
But Gutierrez-Scaccetti shot back that the humorous approach can make the message more memorable.
"I think when people see something that catches their eye, that they chuckle over — or they go home and tell their kids — yeah, you remember it,” she said. “ Does it make them slow down? I hope in the moment it does."
Under the new guidelines, only “simple, direct, brief, legible and clear” messages are permitted.
In a statement to KYW, the FHWA emphasized that “the safety of all road users is the priority,” and said it supported the use of “changeable message signs” operated by state transportation departments.
“States are expected to exercise good judgment in how and when they use changeable message signs for traffic safety messages, and in their specific wording of the messages,” it continued.
The FHWA then pointed to its manual when considering the nature of those messages.