These Ridiculous Road Signs Will Make You Chuckle

Weird warnings

Some signs are pretty obvious wherever you go: stop, pedestrian crossing, cycle lane... But then there are the more unusual notices – the one-offs that warn you of unusual animals or frankly baffling hazards. Here, we've picked out our favorites from around the world. Can you decode them all?

Better late than never

India's road signs are known for using rhymes, wit and word-play to get their messages across, and this one, close to Ladakh in the Himalayas, is no exception. Given its roadside setting, the context behind this sign is to encourage slower, safer driving.

Which way's the beach?

Fancy a swim next to the shooting range? No, us neither. Thankfully, the arrow beneath the sign seems to indicate a shooting-related spot is in the complete opposite direction to swimmers. Phew.

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Childish behaviour

At first glance, this German sign seems to be telling passers-by to watch out for children escaping from some kind of a cave, but it's actually advising to look out for them playing.

Snails crossing

There are some truly weird and wonderful animal warnings on the world's roads, among them this (apparently joke) sign for giant snails crossing in New Zealand. Imagine the wait if a whole family were trying to get across.

Dashing through the snow

Now, where did I park the sled...? Perhaps somewhere near the sled route on this street sign in Kiruna, Sweden. Handy in a place where temperatures can hover around -12°C (10.4°F) for months at a time.

Humps ahead

This sign in the UAE is a legitimate warning, whether you're concerned about undulations in the road or a camel wandering into your path.

Tall tale

It would be hard to miss the hazard flagged up by this sign in the Namibian desert. Africa is home to four distinct species of giraffe and most in Namibia are the Angolan species largely found in the eastern, southern and western parts of Etosha National Park.

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Criminal behavior

Sometimes you needn't worry about what you could do to the animals, but what they could do to you. In Ubud, Bali, it's a good idea to look out for tree-climbing pickpockets.

Warning: dangerous levels of ambiguity

This one... no, we have no idea. No littering? No chipping away at cliffs, glaciers or whatever else this is supposed to be? Answers on a postcard, please.

Animal race ahead

Some signs are not as literal as you might expect. This Thai one isn't pointing out local wildlife but advising about fast and slow lanes. Not a bad idea.

Stranger danger

If you grew up in the UK you might recognize this sign, which can still occasionally be spotted in the British countryside. Saying no to strangers is, of course, good advice, but what are you supposed to say to the giant dog?

Penguins crossing

Another New Zealand warning, this one – unlike the snail sign – is for real, as penguins on the road can be a real danger. In fact, the South Island town of Oamaru even built an 80-foot-long (24m) underpass to allow the birds to waddle under traffic.

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Smile please

With all the signs warning of death that you see on Indian roads, sometimes drivers just need cheering up. This perky notice is from the western state of Maharashtra.

Pack your trunk

It may not be the road to Mandalay, but in Sri Lanka elephants wandering into the road can still cause traffic chaos. You might find them crossing the road in Habarana or Pinawella, the latter of which is well-known for its elephant orphanage site.

No pushing?

No, this sign at a marina on the Knysna estuary, South Africa, is not "Don't push your boyfriend off a cliff" – it's actually a warning about slippery surfaces.

A roadside quiz

This road in Queensland, Australia is so long and straight, authorities have put a quiz in the form of road signs to keep you alert. Who knows when this trivia might come in handy at a pub quiz?

Beware hippos

We love the detail on this sign in a national park in South Africa. While it might seem funny, there's nothing funny about confrontations with hungry, hungry hippos: they are actually the most dangerous animals you'll come across, with hippos responsible for more human deaths in Africa than any other animal.

Hold onto your cows

This cow alien abduction road sign can be found along the Turquoise Trail on Route 66 between Santa Fe and Albuquerque in New Mexico. While we’re not sure if it was placed here due to previous incidents, it would certainly be a sight to behold...

Why cycle when you can fly?

This Australian road sign tells cyclists that there are gaps upcoming, but it looks more like advice to fly over the bridge instead. Perhaps this could be a new take on the long jump?

Forget zebra crossings...

This road sign can be found in Bonaire, one of the best scuba-diving destinations in the Caribbean. We hope this sign means there’s water nearby, otherwise these divers are seriously lost…

Any way will do

If you wanted to quickly pop out to the shops, this road sign will make you think again (and again). Spotted in England, it seems to unnecessarily complicate finding the town center. Unless you like a challenge, that is.

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