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An extremely-well-traveled travel photo-blogger I read sometimes, who has a thing for signs (among other things, like fire hydrants), noted that only one or two

An extremely-well-traveled travel photo-blogger I read sometimes, who has a thing for signs (among other things, like fire hydrants), noted that only one or two other countries in the world come anywhere close to the US when it comes to posting rules on things. He framed it as practically the defining feature of American cities and towns: signs with rules on them, everywhere.

Someone 4y ago
I think that’s because their driving license tests are so easy to pass. It seems they can’t assume drivers recognize a “no U-turn” sign, even though there’s a clear similarity with other signs (round with a red edge and a diagonal red line means forbidden, black arrows mean driving directions) So, they write its meaning below it (https://www.alamy.com/beverly-hills-california-usa-8th-september-2021-a-general-view-of-atmosphere-of-no-u-turn-sign-on-rexford-drive-on-september-8-2021-in-beverly-hills-california-usa-photo-by-barry-kingalamy-stock-photo-image448154940.html https://www.alamy.com/beverly-hills-california-usa-8th-septe...). Weirdly, they do assume their population and tourists can understand written English when passing such signs at speed in a car and even know what a ped xing is. It may be a broader cultural thing, though. Their state flags also are full of text (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_U.S._states_and_territories https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_U.S._states_and_t...)
throwawayboise 4y ago
I agree. Signage is out of control in most of the US. On the roads, but not just on the roads. It's visual noise, often redundant or stating what already is apparent, and I think it's stress-inducing. It's probably related to the litigiousness of American society. If someone got hurt, and there wasn't a sign telling him to not do the clearly dangerous or stupid thing he did, a lawsuit will be filed.

Someone 4y ago

I think that’s because their driving license tests are so easy to pass. It seems they can’t assume drivers recognize a “no U-turn” sign, even though there’s a clear similarity with other signs (round with a red edge and a diagonal red line means forbidden, black arrows mean driving directions) So, they write its meaning below it (https://www.alamy.com/beverly-hills-california-usa-8th-september-2021-a-general-view-of-atmosphere-of-no-u-turn-sign-on-rexford-drive-on-september-8-2021-in-beverly-hills-california-usa-photo-by-barry-kingalamy-stock-photo-image448154940.html https://www.alamy.com/beverly-hills-california-usa-8th-septe...). Weirdly, they do assume their population and tourists can understand written English when passing such signs at speed in a car and even know what a ped xing is. It may be a broader cultural thing, though. Their state flags also are full of text (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_U.S._states_and_territories https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_U.S._states_and_t...)

throwawayboise 4y ago

I agree. Signage is out of control in most of the US. On the roads, but not just on the roads. It's visual noise, often redundant or stating what already is apparent, and I think it's stress-inducing. It's probably related to the litigiousness of American society. If someone got hurt, and there wasn't a sign telling him to not do the clearly dangerous or stupid thing he did, a lawsuit will be filed.