InDecember 2019 , bare week after the world had met — and quickly become obsessed with — The Mandalorian’sBaby Yoda , a Mississippi highway flash an alert on one of its electronic sign :
“ BABY YODA expend THE FORCEBUT STILL NEEDS A CARSEAT ”
Texas driverssaw something similaronhighwaysigns in their state :
“ BABY YODA USES A railcar SEATBE SAFE HE WILL ”
They were far from the first or lastpop culturereferences see on roads across the area . In fact , it ’s become something of a tradition for body politic departments of exile to use their changeable subject matter signs ( CMS ) to impart funny , punny , and pop culture – theme alert .
MinneapoliscelebratedTaylor Swift ’s arrival in Ithiel Town for the Eras Tour in June 2023 with a subject matter referencing not one but two of her songs : “ CUT OFF ? / DON’T GET unfit BLOOD / stir IT OFF . ” AndBostonhas been poking playfulness at its own regional accent with “ USE YAH BLINKAH ” alertssince 2014 . sure states , includingArizonaandNevada , even innkeeper public contests to see who can come up with the best announcements .
One of Arizona ’s 2023 winners proclaimed “ I’M JUST A SIGN / ask A DRIVER / TO USE good turn signal , ” a nod to the 1999 movieNotting Hill . ( “ Using turn signals before you turn makes you a total star , ” Gina Finkelstein , a software engineer who came up with message , said , “ just like Julia Roberts inNotting Hill , only big and better ! ” ) Nevada , meanwhile , crowned three winners , admit “ THAT‘S THE TEMPERATURE / NOT THE SPEED LIMIT ” and ” coterie IN THE MOUNTAINS / NOT THE LEFT LANE . ”
But the U.S. Federal Highway Administration ( FHWA ) is shutting the party down . As theAssociated Press report , the FHWA of late published the 11th edition of its manual , a nearly 1200 - pageboy tome that , among other things , details new regulations for land ’ CMS .
“ Messages with apart or lowly signification , such as those with popular culture quotation , unconventional polarity legend syntax , or that are intended to be humourous , should not be used as they might be misunderstood or empathise only by a modified segment of route user and need big time to process and empathize , ” the manual state [ PDF ] .
Instead , they should “ emphasize the applicable regulation or warning and should reference any penalty associated with usurpation of the regulation . ” The manual even gives a mates case : “ UNBUCKLED SEAT belt FINE + POINTS ” and “ IMPAIRED DRIVERS LOSE LICENSE + gaol . ”
The new convention are n’t a entire surprise ; the FHWA hastaken issue withunserious CMS substance for at least a few years now . The debate is pretty simple : exponent of fun and funny alerts think they ’re a great style to get drivers to actually pay up attention to the sign ; opponents argue that they’retoodistracting and not always clear enough in their significance — especially for mass who do n’t get the trick or reference point .
If there ’s a atomic number 47 lining to the situation , it ’s that states at least have plentiful time to broadcast a few last brash messages : They have untilJanuary 18 , 2026 , to enact the new rules .
