An Australian driver has been left confused after noticing a ‘new’ road sign while cruising down the Northern Territory’s Stuart Highway.
Posting to Reddit the befuddled motorist posted a photograph of the sign, which featured the picture of a hand, to get answers.
He said his travel-mate assumed the sign meant there was somewhere to wash hands nearby while he thought it meant there’d be somewhere to wash his window.
Both of them were wrong.
The sign, which was part of a larger rest area sign, indicates there is Aboriginal artwork in the area.
It is often seen in national parks and is the same symbol used nationally.
‘According to the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (South Australia), published in ‘Road Sign Guidelines’ issued 28/03/2023, it means ‘Aboriginal Attractions’,’ one man commented.
‘Yep, usually rock art or some other Aboriginal site,’ said another.
An Australian driver has been left feeling very confused after noticing a ‘new’ road sign while cruising down the Northern Territory’s Stuart Highway
Posting to Reddit the befuddled motorist posted a photograph of the sign, which features the picture of a hand, to get answers
Some people took time to joke about the image.
‘Love that it’s for indigenous art, but my first thought was a warning to tourists to not put bare skin on the bitumen,’ one woman said.
‘Beware of swarming ants,’ another laughed.
‘Warning, jazz hands in 2km,’ another added.
Others admitted they have never noticed the signage.
‘Oh I’ve never seen this before! And think it’s great. Honestly my brain went to kids craft area for some reason but why would a random regional picnic stop have a kids craft area,’ said another.
‘I genuinely thought someone had just spray painted the sign with their hand on it. i have never seen this,’ added one man.
‘This is so cool, have never seen one of these before. I have to admit my first thought was ‘car scene in the titanic’ though,’ a third added.
Even ChatGPT didn’t know what the sign meant. One assumed Redditor posted its answer.
‘The blue road sign with a white hand surrounded by blue dots in Australia is a hand signal rest area sign. It indicates a rest area where drivers can take a break to reduce fatigue,’ it wrote, wrongly.
‘The white hand symbolizes a ‘stop’ or ‘pause’ action, encouraging drivers to rest and refresh before continuing their journey. Fatigue is a significant cause of road accidents, and these signs are part of campaigns to promote road safety by reminding drivers to stop and rest regularly.’
