Traffic signs: Children's Crossing Signs in the United States

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Children's Crossing Signs found in the U.S.A.

New York, x.2001;
pict. S. Visser

Washington D.C., vii.2001;
pict. S. Visser

Washington D.C., vii.2001;
pict. S. Visser

The first sign warns for a crossing ahead. The actual crossing is shown with a second panel with people between the lines. Ask any government and you will be told that this is exactly where people belong.

Warning signs for pedestrian crossings rarely feature more than two people. The mom-dad-offspring sign is one of only a couple of such finds ever reported by a team member — we have another occurrence in Myanmar.

Notice a peculiarity in the signs with people strolling between the lines. The strokes are interrupted behind the walkers. It is as if the space between people's legs is opaque.

The U.S. are not alone in having difficulties with transparency; countries like Belize or Guatemala are also struggling. To my surprise countries in the East seem to understand transparency very well — f.e. Indonesia or the Philippines.

Washington D.C., vii.2001;
pict. S. Visser

Yosemite N.P., 25.x.1998;
pict. J. Cornellier

Smyrna DE, 10.viii.2017;
pict. B. Hoeyberghs

Clarity is what is missing in our samples of playground signs. You can not understand their meaning in a eyeblink: Slow child playing, Slow child children, Child autistic child.

Firstly, what does it matter if the child about to disappear below your vehicle is slow, autistic, playing, or just a child?

Then, it is not immediately clear if the word at the top is an adjective or an order. Not knowing if they are dealing with a statement or an order retards people's reactions. Not good in traffic.

In my opinion the SLOW should be removed. The drawing of a child should suffice. Should the well-meaning neighborhood really demand a speed limit, then a separate sign might be planted. It is not a good idea to integrate both messages in one sign like it is done in Stroudsburg.

Firstly, the driver is ordered to drive 20 [miles] but that may very well be still too fast. Also this message is entirely different from regular speed limit signs which give the maximum allowed.

Secondly the transmission has become clouded by the superfluous advice to keep the kids alive.

Finally, the message is killed by the horrendous drawing. I, for my part, seeing such monstruosities, would have a hard time not helping them out of their misery by speeding up.

The reduction of people into small and ugly symbols surely doesn't do anything good for safety on the road. The case is further explained in Armenia and our Monsieur Jean has also a few words to say about the matter.

Washington D.C., vii.2001;
pict. S. Visser

At least, some of the warning signs have a nice and detailed drawing.

Stroudsburg, PA, 24.viii.2017;
pict. B. Hoeyberghs

Bend, OR, ix.2001;
pict. S. Visser

Hurts the eyes, but at least the designer noticed that the lines should be visible between the legs. Someone should tell him about the bike.

Plaquemine, LA, 23.x.2022;
pict. J. Breine

Grand Isle, LA, 31.x.2022;
pict. J. Breine

The previous samples of the SLOW-panels mentioned either playing or children. These more recent finds have both words on display: children playing.

Learn everything about road signs in the U.S. at the site of R.C. Moeur: Manual of Traffic Signs (latest check 29.ix.2023)