'Sign' Of The Times Could Cost Millions In NJ
EVESHAM, NJ (CBS) -- The Federal Government says street and traffic signs that are in upper and lower case are easier to read and they want local communities to make some big changes.
This move could place a huge burden on already cash-strapped small towns in the Garden State.
"I think it's ridiculous."
That's how Evesham Mayor Randy Brown feels about a new un-funded mandate by the Federal Highway Administration for cash-strapped towns and cities across the nation to make all road and traffic signs universally upper and lower case.
"Here we go again, somebody else telling us how we have to spend our money," Brown said.
"New Jersey just got a big cut in education and now we're gonna use the money to re-do our street signs? It's absolutely ridiculous," said Marlton resident Jaime Patullo.
Recent studies apparently show that street signs in all capital letters are harder to read, especially for older drivers, and that time spent looking away from the wheel could increase the likelihood of accidents.
"In my 25 years of law enforcement, I have never received a complaint from any driver stating that they could not read a street sign because the printing was in all upper case letters," said Cpt. Frank Locantore of the Evesham Police.
At roughly $100 per sign, Brown says the transition could cost Evesham over $1 million.
Brown says he will call on local congressman and U.S. Senators to fight the "capital vs. lowercase wasteful spending street sign battle" in Washington.
Reported By: Cydney Long, CBS 3
