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Littering galactic outlaws beware: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has its eye on you

By adamg on Wed, 05/04/2022 - 9:14pm
May 4th message on Mass. roads: Scruffy nerd herders stop littering

Lori Henault spotted this message on signs on the turnpike in both Newton and downtown today, on Star Wars Day. Yes, it's a thing; Han needs to only toss his trash in approved garbage compactors.

Neighborhoods: 
Downtown
Newton
Free tagging: 
Massachusetts Turnpike

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Comments

By Fredly on Wed, 05/04/2022 - 9:34pm.

But does the Commonwealth really need to encourage drivers to pull out their phones and take photos on our highways?

“Use Ya Blinkah” was cute, but this trend got stale years ago.

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Voting closed 32

By anon on Wed, 05/04/2022 - 10:55pm.

There's actually some evidence to suggest that those signs are a distraction and cause crashes: https://usa.streetsblog.org/2022/05/02/study-distracting-roadside-safety...

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Voting closed 13

By baustin on Thu, 05/05/2022 - 8:43am.

No one told them to take out their phones. That's on them. If people want to add a little playfulness or whimsy into the world, I say have at it.

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Voting closed 19

By anon on Thu, 05/05/2022 - 2:38pm.

Does the same apply to any dangerous feature of a road? Roads would be so much safer if it weren't for all the drivers.

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Voting closed 2

By KellyJMF on Thu, 05/05/2022 - 9:40am.

Novel messages reach more people than using the same one every time. In order for a PSA to be effective, it first has to grab your attention.

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Voting closed 25

By Est.1985 on Thu, 05/05/2022 - 10:05am.

Must be nice to be able to afford joy rides, some of us have to stretch a dollar at the pump.

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Voting closed 9

By lbb on Fri, 05/06/2022 - 9:34am.

...of non sequiturs...

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Voting closed 14

By roadman on Thu, 05/05/2022 - 12:28pm.

Provided they are sparingly used. And provided the majority of drivers understand the reference.

And FHWA has become increasingly critical of the level of creativity some states have been using in messages on these signs.

https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/interpretations/2_09_174.htm

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Voting closed 12

By Bostonperson on Thu, 05/05/2022 - 12:59pm.

Could use this type of messaging. Some places are covered by litter.

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Voting closed 16

By anon on Thu, 05/05/2022 - 2:37pm.

I'm not convinced that this novel message eliminated a single act of littering.

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Voting closed 14

By adamg on Thu, 05/05/2022 - 1:02pm.

She was at a complete standstill when she took the photo.

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Voting closed 16

By anon on Thu, 05/05/2022 - 4:51pm.

Does that make it ok?

The cars directly in front don't have their brake lights on. It's not good to be stopped on the highway while cars in front of you are moving.

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Voting closed 11

By Michael on Fri, 05/06/2022 - 9:30am.

why only 2 cars in the picture seem to have their brake light on

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Voting closed 11

By John-W on Thu, 05/05/2022 - 10:05am.

...who has got their eye on the Commonwealth's littering of their own highways (with asbestos-laden construction debris)?

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By anon on Thu, 05/05/2022 - 2:42pm.

Messages I'd prefer to see:

TEXTING CAUSED x COLLISIONS THIS YEAR

TAILGATING ENDANGERS OTHER PEOPLE'S FAMILIES
KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE

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Voting closed 20

By jmeltzer on Thu, 05/05/2022 - 6:57pm.

NOT ON THIS SIGN

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Voting closed 3