Does This New York Road Sign Need to be Explained?
It appears that it does because the New York State Department of Transportation has officially explained a common road sign found on the side of many Hudson Valley roads.
If you've lived in New York for a while and spend any time driving you know that there are multiple road signs you drive past each day that assist you in navigating your way to wherever you are going.
Types of Road Signs in New York
During an average drive, drivers are likely to see at least one of the four different types of road signs that are on the side of many roads. According to the DOT, there are four categories of signs including regulatory, warning, guide, and temporary signs. Regulatory are the black and white or red and white signs that normally indicate traffic laws, and regulations. Warning signs are yellow or orange signs with black symbols or inscriptions on them that usually identify the potential of hazardous road conditions.
SEE ALSO: What Do Signs Like This Mean? I See Them All Over the Hudson Valley
Guide signs are green with white text signs that provide information like route numbers, directions, and distances to neighboring locations. Lastly, there are the temporary signs that vary in size and shape, are movable, and usually identify road work or detours.
What Does This Road Sign Mean?
Now that we understand the four types of signs, take a look at this road sign and see if you can figure out what it means...
At first look I think most of us that have ever seen one before understand that the sign is normally put on the side of a road that has a lot of deer nearby, right? For anyone that wasn't sure of the meaning behind a sign like this, the folks at the New York DOT provided an explanation on Facebook the other day saying...
" Ever wonder how all the deer know to cross at these signs? Spoiler: They don’t! But deer crossing signs ARE placed in areas with a high number of deer-vehicle collisions over the past few years. So, when you see one, it’s time to be extra cautious!"
No, Hudson Valley deer do NOT understand that they are supposed to only cross a road that has one of these signs above but we love to see that the DOT has a sense of humor. On a serious note we are currently in peak deer season, which runs from October to December, so remember to stay alert while driving, especially at dawn and dusk.
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