Sign Critic

In Santa Barbara, there is a “safety corridor” sign as you start up Highway 154 toward Lake Cachuma. It says “safety corridor … no drinking and driving.” Does that mean it’s sort-of-okay to drink and drive if you’re not in a safety corridor? Why not include “don’t smoke pot or eat saturated fats while in safety corridor”?

How much does it cost taxpayers to have a “$1000 Fine for Littering” sign posted every five miles? How many people (if any) have actually been prosecuted/fined $1000 for littering? Perhaps if California offered a $10,000 reward for info/video of anyone caught littering there would be enthusiastic public participation and measurable results instead of feel-good warning signs that are themselves litter.

A couple of days ago I caught this drought-related “message” displayed on the Amber Alert sign near Las Positas. Wasn’t this sign intended for emergency information about child abductions, drunk drivers, and serial killers?

I wouldn’t be surprised if someone decides post other useful and distracting information such as “Random farts can cause climate change” (followed immediately by “Breath deeply — avoid road rage”), “Always signal when changing lanes,” “Avoid speeding on sidewalks,” “Don’t waste food,” or “Stop listening to right-wing talk radio when driving.”

If there were any marketing-savvy politicians looking for the perfect place to advertise, and willing to pay $100,000 per day, the Amber Alert system would be a great platform. The first message should be “Don’t believe everything you think”.