Best wording for signage on a private road that looks public
April 17, 2021 12:53 PM Subscribe
Traffic engineers and traffic nerds: What's the most direct, conventional, effective, and shortest wording for a sign to discourage drivers from using a private road that dead ends?
Our small private roadway looks like an extension of a public road, which is about to get a lot more traffic. It's a dead-end road with six houses. We want to discourage people from entering, turning around, or parking. One person wants to say: "Private road, Dead End." Others aren't keen on "Dead End" What's the most effective, shortest wording to discourage drivers from driving in?
Our small private roadway looks like an extension of a public road, which is about to get a lot more traffic. It's a dead-end road with six houses. We want to discourage people from entering, turning around, or parking. One person wants to say: "Private road, Dead End." Others aren't keen on "Dead End" What's the most effective, shortest wording to discourage drivers from driving in?
Dead End is the most effective because as one is driving and making split second decisions, it conveys the most important information—
Don’t drive here.
You might add a No Turnaround
Or a One Way sign pointing against expected traffic.
posted by calgirl at 12:58 PM on April 17, 2021 [19 favorites]
Don’t drive here.
You might add a No Turnaround
Or a One Way sign pointing against expected traffic.
posted by calgirl at 12:58 PM on April 17, 2021 [19 favorites]
Driveway/No outlet
Worked for me when Google Maps seemed to think my driveway was a road.
posted by sageleaf at 1:02 PM on April 17, 2021 [8 favorites]
Worked for me when Google Maps seemed to think my driveway was a road.
posted by sageleaf at 1:02 PM on April 17, 2021 [8 favorites]
Why aren't they keen on Dead End? that's literally what the phrase was made for. I've also seen "No through Way" or "No through traffic", which means that you can't get to anywhere from this road, but it's lesser know. Maybe "Private Road - Resident Access Only" or something like that
posted by FirstMateKate at 1:03 PM on April 17, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by FirstMateKate at 1:03 PM on April 17, 2021 [4 favorites]
No turning space.
Cul-de-sac.
Wrong way. - I know a case just like yours where this is used, even though drive is two-way.
One-way, no entry. - residents would know the lie.
posted by unearthed at 1:11 PM on April 17, 2021
Cul-de-sac.
Wrong way. - I know a case just like yours where this is used, even though drive is two-way.
One-way, no entry. - residents would know the lie.
posted by unearthed at 1:11 PM on April 17, 2021
Not a traffic engineer but I think Dead End or No Outlet is clearest. No Through Way easy to confuse with No Through Traffic which people take to mean "aha so there is a way through and they are trying to take away my birthright of driving everywhere I please."
posted by away for regrooving at 1:15 PM on April 17, 2021 [19 favorites]
posted by away for regrooving at 1:15 PM on April 17, 2021 [19 favorites]
For me, No Through Traffic means this is a shortcut, but we don’t want you to take it.
I agree that Dead End is most likely to get you the results you want.
posted by FencingGal at 1:16 PM on April 17, 2021 [23 favorites]
I agree that Dead End is most likely to get you the results you want.
posted by FencingGal at 1:16 PM on April 17, 2021 [23 favorites]
Some city planners think Dead End reflects negatively on the spirit of their whatever, and prefer No Outlet. I've heard people express concern that Dead End may hurt the freshly bereaved, but I have to say this is not something I've yet heard from the bereaved people themselves (or felt myself).
Some people make a semantic distinction, that Dead End is unbranched while No Outlet allows a tree of roads.
(still not a traffic engineer, but worked with traffic signage aficionados)
posted by away for regrooving at 1:18 PM on April 17, 2021 [7 favorites]
Some people make a semantic distinction, that Dead End is unbranched while No Outlet allows a tree of roads.
(still not a traffic engineer, but worked with traffic signage aficionados)
posted by away for regrooving at 1:18 PM on April 17, 2021 [7 favorites]
It's Dead End you want. We have several such roads in our neighborhood, and Dead End says exactly what you want drivers to know: "unless you're heading down this road for the specific purpose of visiting one of these homes, you don't want to come down here."
Any variation of "private road" or "no turnaround" just makes people think you're selfish assholes and gives them a purposeful reason to drive down your road, to show you how they feel about that.
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:19 PM on April 17, 2021 [14 favorites]
Any variation of "private road" or "no turnaround" just makes people think you're selfish assholes and gives them a purposeful reason to drive down your road, to show you how they feel about that.
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:19 PM on April 17, 2021 [14 favorites]
Private Dead End Road
posted by mono blanco at 1:25 PM on April 17, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by mono blanco at 1:25 PM on April 17, 2021 [1 favorite]
Definitely not "No Turnaround" because pretty much every one of those signs is a lie, and people will drive up it the road to prove that point.
posted by ShooBoo at 1:26 PM on April 17, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by ShooBoo at 1:26 PM on April 17, 2021 [4 favorites]
Private Drive (conveys that it's a driveway, not a road)
No Through Road (reinforces the point)
posted by bgrebs at 1:31 PM on April 17, 2021
No Through Road (reinforces the point)
posted by bgrebs at 1:31 PM on April 17, 2021
If you phrase it as, "PRIVATE DRIVE - ABRUPT END," people may intuit a ravine or a cliff at the end. I watch people drive into "no thoroughfare" areas, who don't live in the residential area, all the livelong day.
posted by firstdaffodils at 1:34 PM on April 17, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by firstdaffodils at 1:34 PM on April 17, 2021 [1 favorite]
"Private Road, No Access, No Outlet, No Parking, No Trespassing"
https://www.roadtrafficsigns.com/private-road-no-parking-access-outlet-trespassing-sign/sku-k2-0167
If that one doesn't tickle your fancy they have dozens more in various designs, wording, shapes, and colors.
posted by kschang at 1:54 PM on April 17, 2021 [1 favorite]
https://www.roadtrafficsigns.com/private-road-no-parking-access-outlet-trespassing-sign/sku-k2-0167
If that one doesn't tickle your fancy they have dozens more in various designs, wording, shapes, and colors.
posted by kschang at 1:54 PM on April 17, 2021 [1 favorite]
PRIVATE ROAD: $7.00 TOLL
(Caveat, I read this a long time ago in the CoEvolution Quarterly) there was a cafe in Berkeley which was having trouble with a biker gang parking their bikes in a no parking zone in front of the cafe (Cafe Med, I think) and increasingly strident signs proclaiming no parking, fines, and towing made no impact. Then they put up a sign saying PARKING: $10.00/HR., and the bikes disappeared.
posted by jamjam at 2:04 PM on April 17, 2021 [9 favorites]
(Caveat, I read this a long time ago in the CoEvolution Quarterly) there was a cafe in Berkeley which was having trouble with a biker gang parking their bikes in a no parking zone in front of the cafe (Cafe Med, I think) and increasingly strident signs proclaiming no parking, fines, and towing made no impact. Then they put up a sign saying PARKING: $10.00/HR., and the bikes disappeared.
posted by jamjam at 2:04 PM on April 17, 2021 [9 favorites]
'DEAD END' is the only relevant information here and it's in the clearest language you could possibly use. You could have something saying 'DEAD END - 1000 FEET' or whatever it is, but really, the only thing at issue here is that the road doesn't go anywhere.
The fact that it's a private road doesn't matter to drivers or residents. If it did, then you'd have a gatehouse where somebody would check visitors' IDs. Go ahead and post that as a separate sign if you want, but it doesn't really affect anything and it won't deter people who might want to drive there.
posted by theory at 2:12 PM on April 17, 2021 [8 favorites]
The fact that it's a private road doesn't matter to drivers or residents. If it did, then you'd have a gatehouse where somebody would check visitors' IDs. Go ahead and post that as a separate sign if you want, but it doesn't really affect anything and it won't deter people who might want to drive there.
posted by theory at 2:12 PM on April 17, 2021 [8 favorites]
Dead End is most clear. No Outlet sounds nicer to many, but it's just not as clear to all drivers whereas Dead End is very clear. Private Road is unnecessary. You just need non-residents to know that this road will only force them to turn around and leads nowhere.
posted by quince at 2:34 PM on April 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by quince at 2:34 PM on April 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
If it were my decision I'd go with multiple signs: PRIVATE ROAD, NO TRESPASSING, VIOLATORS PROSECUTED and 24 HOUR VIDEO SURVEILLANCE or something along those lines. I see it all the time in my region. Faceless active hostility. You're not trying to be nice to these strangers.
I used to think people who put up NO TRESSPASSING type signs around their property were jerks, until I started having neighborhood issues (theft and vandalism) of my own. Maybe I am a jerk also, now, but leave me alone and stay away.
posted by glonous keming at 3:09 PM on April 17, 2021
I used to think people who put up NO TRESSPASSING type signs around their property were jerks, until I started having neighborhood issues (theft and vandalism) of my own. Maybe I am a jerk also, now, but leave me alone and stay away.
posted by glonous keming at 3:09 PM on April 17, 2021
I can tell you "Dead End" may not work. I live on a similar road, people think it goes through to a major road, but it doesn't. There is a sign that says "Dead End" and every day I see drivers ignore it or miss it and then need to turn around. It's a standard yellow sign.
From what I recall, at least in the 1980s, possibly still now, there is a technical difference between "No Outlet" and "Dead End." "No Outlet" is basically what you see is what you get - a little bit of road in front of you and that's all. "Dead End" is ultimately you will need to turn around somehow, but there could be byways off the bit in front of you. All of them eventually no outlet. But I'm not a city planner or anything and could be way off. As I said, that's based on 30+ years ago, and was in the northeast US.
posted by Meldanthral at 3:17 PM on April 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
From what I recall, at least in the 1980s, possibly still now, there is a technical difference between "No Outlet" and "Dead End." "No Outlet" is basically what you see is what you get - a little bit of road in front of you and that's all. "Dead End" is ultimately you will need to turn around somehow, but there could be byways off the bit in front of you. All of them eventually no outlet. But I'm not a city planner or anything and could be way off. As I said, that's based on 30+ years ago, and was in the northeast US.
posted by Meldanthral at 3:17 PM on April 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
What do you want drivers to do? Not drive on your road. You don’t really care if they choose not to drive there for the right reason, you just want that behaviour to stop.
What do drivers want to do? Get where they’re headed. Unfortunately, many won’t care that they shouldn’t drive on your road because it’s private, if they think they’ll be able to get to their destination. So, your emphasis needs to be on the fact that this road won’t get them where they’re going.
“Dead End” will be most effective. I have never heard of “No Outlet” and I wouldn’t know what that meant. I’d figure it out, but maybe not before I turned onto your road. “No Through Traffic” might be interpreted to mean, “We don’t want through traffic but you could get through.” “Dead End” says “You physically can’t drive through.”
You can have a sign that says DEAD END in big lettering on top, and underneath in smaller lettering, PRIVATE ROAD. But what you want to emphasize is that this road will not get them where they want to go.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:18 PM on April 17, 2021 [5 favorites]
What do drivers want to do? Get where they’re headed. Unfortunately, many won’t care that they shouldn’t drive on your road because it’s private, if they think they’ll be able to get to their destination. So, your emphasis needs to be on the fact that this road won’t get them where they’re going.
“Dead End” will be most effective. I have never heard of “No Outlet” and I wouldn’t know what that meant. I’d figure it out, but maybe not before I turned onto your road. “No Through Traffic” might be interpreted to mean, “We don’t want through traffic but you could get through.” “Dead End” says “You physically can’t drive through.”
You can have a sign that says DEAD END in big lettering on top, and underneath in smaller lettering, PRIVATE ROAD. But what you want to emphasize is that this road will not get them where they want to go.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:18 PM on April 17, 2021 [5 favorites]
The best way is to make it look like it's not an extension of the road, but a driveway. If possible, narrow the entrance to the private road so it's only one car width. Put a speed bump there. Put some "kids playing" little profile signs there. Hell, put up a picket fence with a space for the one lane road.
posted by bashing rocks together at 3:20 PM on April 17, 2021 [10 favorites]
posted by bashing rocks together at 3:20 PM on April 17, 2021 [10 favorites]
Agreed with above, will add that “Private Road” is relevant if you live near something where overflow street parking may end up on your road, or if one might reasonably assume that there is a swimming hole or public beach at the end of the road. Otherwise, dead end/no outlet conveys what drivers need to know to avoid your street.
(Locally, I’ve seen private roads signaled with road signs that are clear enough for emergency personnel but do not mimic local public road signage, through font or color.)
posted by tchemgrrl at 3:20 PM on April 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
(Locally, I’ve seen private roads signaled with road signs that are clear enough for emergency personnel but do not mimic local public road signage, through font or color.)
posted by tchemgrrl at 3:20 PM on April 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
DEAD END
PRIVATE DRIVEWAY
NOT A ROAD
KEEP OUT
It goes nowhere.
It's a driveway.
It's not even a road.
Stay out of my damn driveway you idiots.
No Outlet is what you get for a subdivision that only has one way in or out. Oh, there's plenty there, a fire station, an elementary school, a private pool, and tons of houses... plenty of reason to go there, but you're coming back out the same way you came in.
Private Road implies that it's actually a road that goes somewhere. No Through is just something people put up on roads because they don't like that they've become a shortcut packed with traffic.
I'd probably (depending) make it look like a gravel road. Not nice looking, not looking like it's maintained by the city/county.
Maybe put up a fake mailbox (is that legal) or leave out an empty trashcan by the entrance.
posted by zengargoyle at 3:48 PM on April 17, 2021 [4 favorites]
PRIVATE DRIVEWAY
NOT A ROAD
KEEP OUT
It goes nowhere.
It's a driveway.
It's not even a road.
Stay out of my damn driveway you idiots.
No Outlet is what you get for a subdivision that only has one way in or out. Oh, there's plenty there, a fire station, an elementary school, a private pool, and tons of houses... plenty of reason to go there, but you're coming back out the same way you came in.
Private Road implies that it's actually a road that goes somewhere. No Through is just something people put up on roads because they don't like that they've become a shortcut packed with traffic.
I'd probably (depending) make it look like a gravel road. Not nice looking, not looking like it's maintained by the city/county.
Maybe put up a fake mailbox (is that legal) or leave out an empty trashcan by the entrance.
posted by zengargoyle at 3:48 PM on April 17, 2021 [4 favorites]
Here in BC we use "No Exit" as the official "dead end" sign, and I've sometimes seen additional signs that also say "No access to [street name people might think it might go through to]".
posted by cgg at 3:55 PM on April 17, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by cgg at 3:55 PM on April 17, 2021 [3 favorites]
No sign will stop them, unless it is hung on a normally closed gate.
Elite makes a nice battery powered solar charged opener good up to a 400 lb gate.
posted by the Real Dan at 3:56 PM on April 17, 2021 [1 favorite]
Elite makes a nice battery powered solar charged opener good up to a 400 lb gate.
posted by the Real Dan at 3:56 PM on April 17, 2021 [1 favorite]
Change the name of the private road to 'Dirt Road'. Then put up a sign that says, Dirt Road, Closed. And another that says Dead End.
posted by AugustWest at 4:34 PM on April 17, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by AugustWest at 4:34 PM on April 17, 2021 [1 favorite]
In my area you would see either "dead end" or "no exit" in large block text with "private driveway/no trespassing" underneath.
posted by rpfields at 5:36 PM on April 17, 2021
posted by rpfields at 5:36 PM on April 17, 2021
It's interesting to see the Wikipedia page for Dead End Signage lists four variants for this in the U.S. (matching the discussion above), whilst in most other countries there is just a single option which I believe would be clear to most drivers there.
posted by Gomez_in_the_South at 5:52 PM on April 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Gomez_in_the_South at 5:52 PM on April 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
these three, together: private drive, no outlet, high clearance vehicles only.
posted by j_curiouser at 6:36 PM on April 17, 2021
posted by j_curiouser at 6:36 PM on April 17, 2021
Best answer: I'm trying really hard to remember if I've seen "Dead End" signs where I live. I don't think I have. It's always "No Outlet" and it gets the message across.
As I driver, I would avoid driving on a road that had a "No Outlet - Private Driveway" sign posted.
posted by cooker girl at 6:47 AM on April 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
As I driver, I would avoid driving on a road that had a "No Outlet - Private Driveway" sign posted.
posted by cooker girl at 6:47 AM on April 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
Not sure how much you're willing to spend, but I was thinking putting up a "gate" with a sign above it announcing the entrance to so-and-so estate / ranch / farm/ whatever you name your place, even with no doors, should give people pause, esp. when you add the no tresspassing and so on signs.
Put up a couple trees or bushes to mark the edge of your property, and all of a sudden it looks like a border. You just need to do the portion that people see from the road, not the whole perimeter.
posted by kschang at 7:17 AM on April 18, 2021
Put up a couple trees or bushes to mark the edge of your property, and all of a sudden it looks like a border. You just need to do the portion that people see from the road, not the whole perimeter.
posted by kschang at 7:17 AM on April 18, 2021
I absolutely have driven up roads that have had multiple signs like "PRIVATE ROAD, NO TRESPASSING, VIOLATORS PROSECUTED and 24 HOUR VIDEO SURVEILLANCE" just to see what was at the end of them. So don't do that if you don't want jerks like me visiting, maybe. Dead End (or whatever the regional equivalent in your area is) is your best bet.
posted by Jairus at 9:54 AM on April 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Jairus at 9:54 AM on April 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
END
posted by Ahmad Khani at 10:45 AM on April 18, 2021
posted by Ahmad Khani at 10:45 AM on April 18, 2021
Apparently GoogMaps had an error, and there used to be a sign on a road near me to the effect of "Google Maps is Wrong; No Entrance to BlahBlah State Park" and I can't find my picture of it.
No Outlet seems to be the most common these days. If you don't get snow, consider a low speed bump or shallow trough, which is a tactile message, and maybe sand and small gravel on the road, which is a visible cue that a road is not maintained. Plantings that are close to the road do that, too.
posted by theora55 at 1:03 PM on April 18, 2021
No Outlet seems to be the most common these days. If you don't get snow, consider a low speed bump or shallow trough, which is a tactile message, and maybe sand and small gravel on the road, which is a visible cue that a road is not maintained. Plantings that are close to the road do that, too.
posted by theora55 at 1:03 PM on April 18, 2021
It depends massively which anglophone country you're in.
posted by turkeyphant at 4:29 PM on April 18, 2021
posted by turkeyphant at 4:29 PM on April 18, 2021
Sorta second the gate. Didn't mention it before because in my day it was a gate with a chain with like six different locks on it. You had to get out of your car and open/close the gate. Modern gate might be a cheapish and easy solution. Bonus if you can open it from home to let visitors in, they can call/text and/or you can leave it open.
posted by zengargoyle at 9:12 PM on April 19, 2021
posted by zengargoyle at 9:12 PM on April 19, 2021
« Older Have a Chrome hyperlink open in an Incognito... | insulating flooring for a home with concrete slab... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Whatever is chosen I’d suggest having the “Private Road” the lower / secondary sign as I suspect there is a greater likelihood of drivers who would not care on iota if the road is private. But most will care if the road is such that They Can’t Get There From Here.
posted by armoir from antproof case at 12:57 PM on April 17, 2021 [14 favorites]