Feds Say Highway Sign ‘Clutter’ Is No Joke
I got this e-mail from the Federal Government today. I assume this means that I’ve been elevated by the government from the “terrorism watch list” to something more.
“Recent efforts in Oak Lawn to make its stop signs more eye-catching are no laughing matter. Unfortunately, the media’s trivial coverage of these embellishments failed to mention the seriousness of roadway safety. Last year, more than 40,000 fellow citizens died in roadway crashes. Just two weeks ago, four people died in Indiana because a driver ran a stop sign.
“Keeping America’s roads safe is our top priority and keeping street signs uniform and free from clutter is critical to that effort. Sincerely, Jeff Lindley, Associate Administrator, Office of Safety, Federal Highway Administration.”
It’s easy to pick on the Federal Government when they ignore you. Lindley was nice enough to pay attention and e-mail and then had a spokesman, Doug Hecox, respond by telephone to my inquiries.
I wish President Bush understood that simple rule that when you speak to the news media, we get the story more accurate and we’re more fair. Well, maybe he could get Karl Rove to stop playing dirty politics and lend a hand to make this a safer country.
Hecox made a compelling argument when he said there are Federal Laws requiring road signs to be consistent in color, size and placement. It eliminates chaos.
“One community might think it is OK to make streets more fun. Maybe another community tries to top it with something funnier. At some point, the signs begin to look like novelty items and drivers might not take them seriously. And all it takes is one person to drive through a sign and kill someone. It has potential to turn into a serious issue,” Hecox said.
Sure. Fine. No more cute signs. But Oak Lawn also said the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ordered the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to “punish” Oak Lawn, withholding funds for another road improvement?
Doesn’t the failure to improve a road also create a possible public safety hazard?
“I don’t even think it (IDOT’s punitive measures) is relevant. The better thing is the right thing was done and it was pulled down. IDOT did the right thing,” Hecox said.
I don’t agree. I think that the punishment is excessive and a federal agency that is aware of one errant community stop sign policy should also be aware of when their name is used to justify a punishment.
Who was it that complained? Hecox did not know that either. He said it isn’t relevant.
Hecox did say he never heard of this happening elsewhere in the country.
Hey, Oak Lawn goes down in the books, once again.
“This is the first one I am aware of. It is the sort of issue I would remember. It would stand out, even if it happened before I got here,” Hecox said.
The fact that there are other communities in Illinois and probably elsewhere in the country doing the same thing didn’t seem to concern Hecox because no one has brought it to their attention.
“Do you want me to look into it?” Hecox asked me of suggestions another Illinois suburb does it too.
I have a better idea. Maybe we can get the rat who squealed on Oak Lawn to rat out the other communities, too.
By the way, this is all appropriate considering this week (May 10-17) is National Transportation Week.
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