And according to this article, a bunch of Representatives signed the letter, too

https://www.nj.com/news/2022/11/nj-lawmakers-demand-feds-explain-order-to-boot-funny-highway-signs.html

>While many issues divide Republicans and Democrats, they united in a message to federal highway officials Tuesday demanding answers about why New Jersey had to end its humorous highway safety messages. > >A dozen New Jersey federal lawmakers, including U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, D-N.J., sent a letter Tuesday asking Federal Highway Administration Acting Director Stephanie Pollack for specific answers about how the FHWA arrived at the decision to ask the state to scuttle the video messages.

Okay what other reps I'd like to know. Fucking NJ.com

Probably would be easier just to check which reps are taking fat campaign donations from the auto insurance industry and private prisons.

It's right there in the message, "attention grabbing". You should be able to process the info and move on without it being too much of a distraction.

Roadside signage shouldn't be entertainment. It should be utilitarian. I'm sure the DOT uses the same safe driving curriculum as UPS, and we're taught to "scan, not stare."

Then you might as well ban roadside billboards.

I would love that! I think Maine has to a ban on them. They seem outdated as a means of advertisement anyway.

Yes, but my point was that if billboards are legal in NJ, these DOT signs should be too. They're really not difficult to read and process quickly.

Ah, fair point. I think it's all pointless. People really shouldn't need to be told to not use their phone while driving, but here we are.

But if you ban billboards how will I know that Rob sells NJ?

It was nice to see those messages instead of accident ahead.

If towns are allowed to keep the blue line in between the yellow/white lines in front of PD buildings, then let the signs stay! If you weren’t aware, the blue line is also against federal regulations

Goddamn they can't agree on one thing, but when it comes to the FHWA and the bureaucracy they contribute to, suddenly everyone can come to agreement!? Shows the pure hypocrisy, bile, and ignorance that is spewn from their mouths. And hey guess what!? We don't want you to bring the damn signs back. They only reason anyone noticed is because of this bleak political climate that you've helped create and cultivate. Maybe do something to actually reduce the cost of living or to help impact the lives of daily average Americans. Not our goddamn road signs. Jfc. Rant over. Carry on.

My guess is that the Feds fear that too many people will be taking photos of them while driving.

I remember every fun highway sign. They are catchy and short! "We'll be blunt. Don't drive high."

Meanwhile I pass a weird slutty online gaming billboard all the time on the NJTP. Also, a super judgy one about God.

Fun fact- I don't remember the words from either.

Even more fun fact- the NJ signs make me smile, and I really need that at 7am...

Seemed to be the case for a while there. I saw a ton of these posted from cellphone cameras for a few weeks there.

If this is one of the reasons, the Feds should at least say so. Otherwise, it just seems childish to tell states to cut it out for no reason.

Lol @ Menendez talking to feds.

He is under investigation again.

The signs are idiotic as every idiot out there wants to pull their phone out while driving to take pics of them.

Glad to see our Senators are tackling the important issues.

Can they spend their time doing something more useful then fighting for highway signs

I just took a long trip down 95 and there were punny signs in Delaware and maryland

Same could be said for the feds.

Those gambling ones are disgusting to me. Straight up encouraging addictive behaviour.

Keeping the blue line means if there is a crash, the city can be sued. Normally they are immune, but that assumes they follow the federal guidelines

I don’t understand why everyone loves these dumb signs. They were cute social media fodder for like two weeks and should have run their course. Let’s not go crazy and say they are potentially life-saving. If anything they encourage people to take out their phone and snap a picture of them (and then prob share the pic right away).

They're funny. Most people notice them just enough to read and chuckle while getting the message, as opposed to the boring signs that aren't remembered. Most people aren't going to take pictures of them.

The feds are being killjoys.

Wouldn’t it be cool if they stopped raising tolls

The Federal Highway safety commission enforcing regulations is not the same as senators pandering for approval

Could you point me to the relevant caselaw or statute that says this?

The House of Representatives is taking on the big Hunter Biden issue /s

[deleted]

They can be sued, but it would be impossible (IMO) to prove that the blue line caused the crash. Every driver knows what a solid double yellow line means. The presence or absence of a different color in between the yellow lines doesn't change the meaning of a double yellow.

I like those signs. this is literally the first time in my life that I've felt my reps were actually representing my position on an issue. Which is pretty sad, but I take what i can get.

i just drove across many states, and other states are doing it too

They had a thanksgiving themed sign in Trenton saying “gobble gobble, keep off the throttle”. But it was only up the first week of November then the sign turned off

I look at it this way, if a little chuckle stops one asshole from road rage for the day… job well done.

Edit: Never mind, read next comment regarding the laptop.

It’s a matter of funding. NJ gets money from the feds to pave roads, and if we painted or allowed towns to paint those blue lines on State highways it could affect our future funding.

It's not.

I mean, it potentially might have been had the Republican operatives who originally came upon the laptop actually followed the proper channels and taken it to the FBI instead of trying to secure airtime on Fox News, but unless there's some incredible, unassailable trove of incontrovertible incriminating evidence, it's just going to be two years of blowhard bullshit to get more air time on Fox News instead of actually legislating.

Everything on the laptop may as well not exist because it's become so tainted by the chain of possession so as to be inadmissible in any court of law. And the fact that someone of Rudy Giuliani's stature sure-as-shit knows this goes a long way in telling you how big a deal it really isn't.

Not to mention how to eat clean, bro?

The signs were funny and were across the US but the Federal Uniform Traffic Codes say you can't use those messages. There are guidelines that every state must follow regarding them. Love how government can't let the states post funny but impactful messages to help keep us safe🙄

Ok, so I didn’t realize that it’d passed through private hands instead of breaching a proper CoC; that does make a difference. Thanks for the perspective.

This is so weird. Delaware has been doing signs like this for years i can’t see why nj couldn’t

Can the special snowflakes and "Karens" please stfu? These messages are awesome!

"Be a dear. And watch out for wildlife" seen it a week and half ago. Stuck with me the entire ride (made me actively think about it DURING the ride) and still remember it fresh. I'd say this is actually a really good idea campaign. Fuck them old ass Senators who aren't even from NJ to begin with.

I loved this.