[Sacajaweau]

One of the things I taught my kids when they were learning to drive was "bridges freeze first" so slow down before you hit the bridge.

We have abridge over a bay here...it's where most of our accidents occur...

Stupid signs are "duck crossing".....cuz ducks can't read.

[beebuster2000]

anyone who has driven any in cold weather knows that bridges will always be icy before the surface of the road.

No, they don't . Generally i agree with your view on warnings, but i doubt 20% of drivers understand the bridge icing, so i don't really have a problem with the sign.

But adding to your point, here in California every parking garage has a sign that says something ike "this structure has cancer causing agents, known to the State of California" or something like that. I always wondered, what do they expect us to do with that? Its not safe to park? or is it? Make up your damn mind State of California. Why put it on me? Why is that sign even there?

[be-baw]

Icy bridge signs have been around longer than warning labels on cigarette packages. I’ve never paid much attention to them. However, in winter 1972, I spun a friend’s car around on a bridge and smacked into a guard rail. Since then I’ve taken icy bridges seriously.

[EricT.]

I would posit that these signs are making Americans more stupid than ever by short-circuiting natural selection.

We actually used to have a lot of accidental deaths. It usually involved someone doing something stupid— climbing a fence with a loaded gun, sticking hands into running farm equipment, etc. Life used to be filled with survival tests. Now, any idiot can live to a ripe old age.

[cripplecreek]

[left that other site]

The absolute BEST one is the label on the Windshield Sun Screen:

Remove Sun Shield before attempting to operate vehicle.

[left that other site]

The take-down manual for my Colt has a WARNING on EVERY PAGE. LOL.

[DouglasKC]

Going back to the road sign that prompted me on this path of thought, anyone who has driven any in cold weather knows that bridges will always be icy before thee surface of the road. It's the laws of nature.

I enjoyed the article and understood the message but this isn't intuitive at all. I'm an intelligent 52 year old man and until 10 years ago I didn't understand the purpose or reason for this. It actually requires an understanding of bridge construction, how the ground freezes and the relative warmth of the earth as opposed to the cold air of winter.

If I had to guess I would say the majority of people have no idea about the dynamics behind the signs.

[Vigilanteman]

One warning label which I would like to see in every voting booth in the country would post a label showing Hiroshima and Detroit in 1945 and today with a warning that continuous Democrat rule would do more long term damage than a nuclear blast.

[LibLieSlayer]

We needed a national billboard in 2007 that stated:

Warning: Voting for a black liberation racist, muslim, marxist gaylord may lead to the destruction of the United States of America and engulf the world in an evil shroud”.

[Islander7]

It's worse than you think!

[ZinGirl]

Perhaps this sign was posted on the wall during the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Those pointy quill pens could be dangerous! Also, there was the risk of papercuts. :)

[Celtic Conservative]

On a Huskvarna chainsaw box: "do not attempt to stop spinning chain with hands or genitals. Thought it was BS until the last time I went to Lowes.. sure enough, right on the box.

CC

[sasquatch]

We’ve got some signs that say:
‘road conditions may change’

[VerySadAmerican]

They need to define “cold weather”.

They should also stop putting up signs that say “Slow Children at Play”. It’s an insult to mentally handicapped children.

[RegulatorCountry]

At one time every bridge here in NC had a warning sign that was hinged in the middle, only opened to warn of “Ice On Bridge” when there was ice on the bridge.

But, now we have those same inane signs, too. Labor cost got to be too much I suppose. People still crash on iced over bridges, though, they did before. You can’t make people pay attention or not be stupid. That’s up to them.

Maybe it takes a hard lesson, like ramming a concrete bridge railing or an unplanned high speed trip out through the woods to do it for some.

[rustbucket]

[CrazyIvan]

I used to have one in the bathroom that was a picture of a big mean looking guy in leiderhosen with a bucket and scrub brush. The caption was “Hans must wash all employees before returning to work”

[spokeshave]

Germany has more road signs per kilometre of highway than any other country in the world, I’m told.

I believe it. Driving along a German country road leaves you with a headache from having been nagged incessantly. It’s not your travelling companions doing the nagging; it’s the traffic signs.

Look here. Do this. Don’t do that. Pay attention. Stop. Go. Slow down. Be quiet. Watch out for small children. Watch out for large animals. Hold your breath (pig farm ahead). Beware the Ides of March.

Along with the usual international panoply of road signs, the Germans have come up with quite a few that are uniquely their own.

Some of them make sense (in an anal-compulsive sort of way) but others just leave me scratching my head.

Just Google "German redundant road signs and go to "images"

[dalereed]

Screw safety!!!

If it saves time and I have a 50% probability of survival i do it!

i’ve only been busted up a dozen or so times in my 76 years!