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Richard S. Beam

213 Road Signs, etc.

10/20/2021

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I had to renew my Nebraska Driver’s License this fall, so I had to spend a bit of time reviewing the Driver’s Manual to accomplish this.  (I confess that I felt a little like I’d been put back in Driver’s Ed. class in High School, but, if I wish to keep driving [I do], I had to put up with it.)  Anyway, I passed, so I’m good for another five years, but that’s not the topic of this post.
 
My study of road signs in the manual reminded me that my brother-in-law recently took a trip to Alaska where he took pictures of a number of unique(?) traffic signs in Denali National Park.  To the best of my knowledge, they are all real, actual signs of the category “Warning” signs, which is denoted by their diamond shape and, usual yellow color.  I assume that all of the common, standard types of signs were also present, but there were some which I had not previously encountered, and which struck me as interesting, especially as they were NOT in the Nebraska Driver’s Manual. 
 
For example, this one isn’t in the manual, although I believe that I have seen it before.  However, the circumstances shown here made its presence in this context seem a bit unusual, although certainly reasonable.
Picture
I think I’ve seen something like this next sign before, but not with this exact wording which I found made it seem a bit confusing.  It does seem a bit hard to figure out.  
Picture
Now I have certainly seen this next sign near airports many times.  Seeing it on what appears to be the side of a mountain and with what appears to be airplane wreckage on the hillside just behind it gave me pause however….
Picture
Now I realize that the “political/administrative” class doesn’t seem to have a particularly high opinion of the intelligence of the general public (which DOES at times seem justified, if one pays much attention to the news), but I have to wonder if THIS sign is really necessary?
Picture
On the other hand, while I entirely approve of reasonable speed limits and adequate enforcement, I am forced to wonder if THIS isn’t taking things to an extreme a good way beyond “reasonable?”
Picture
What interested me even more than the previously shown signs, however, were some which I had NOT encountered as approved, standard, warning signs in any of the states in which I have had a driver’s license.  Take this one, for example.
Picture
While I have certainly heard of trolls in relation to bridges, I have not previously encountered official recognition of the need for warning the public of the existence of a troll in relation to a highway bridge.  On the other hand, I’ve never been to Alaska, so what do I know?
 
This, next, sign made me wonder if all of the stories which I have heard regarding the size and ferocity of mosquitoes in Alaska were really true, as opposed to being exaggerated.  Now, if someone had said they had seen this sign in Florida, it might have been quite different.
Picture
The purpose of “Warning” signs such as these, of course is to warn drivers of potentially hazardous conditions which they are approaching.  One common variety is the warning sign which attempts to depict an approaching intersection, so a driver can be prepared for oncoming and cross traffic.  I defy anyone, however, to make sense of THIS sign!
Picture
I suppose that this IS a possible intersection configuration, but I suspect that trying to figure it out as one drives by it would be so distracting as to make it more hazardous than the actual intersection.
 
Possibly my favorite sign of the entire bunch, though, was this one.
Picture
I can’t even attempt to comment on it, or why it exists.  If anyone can figure it out, please let me know.
 
If you will excuse my channeling my inner Steve Jobs, there IS “just one more thing,” however. 
Picture
Yes, real road sign, real road.  You figure it out.
 
LLAP,
 
Dr. B

See you next time!

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    Just personal comments about things which interest me (and might interest others).

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