There’s Something Strange About This Stop Sign in Rural Illinois

Someone shared a photo of a stop sign in rural Northern Illinois along with the question, "why?" When I saw it I knew it needed to be shared. This isn't the first interesting stop sign in the area, though. Throughout Illinois, there are multiple stop signs, all with the same unique design.

What is a variable stop sign?

According to TapCo, a variable stop sign is a "simple solution to safety hazards created by angled intersections." An example of its use would be two intersections that angle toward one another but only one has a stop sign. The "blinders" block the S-T-O-P from being seen by traffic that does not need to stop.

Belvidere Township, Illinois

In rural Belvidere, there is another unique stop sign but this one isn't a variable stop sign. Technically, this one is not any different from any other stop sign you'd see at an intersection. What makes this one unique is the decoration someone placed (or applied) to the stop sign that makes it eye-catching.

The comments on the photo shared in the Facebook group, What’s Happening in Belvidere, IL? make the photo even more amusing.

Apparently, the "decoration" on this sign has happened at more than one intersection in the Belvidere area.

I saw one over on Ruby and over by the old high school.

This particular stop sign, at Squaw Prairie Road and Beloit Road, was slapped with a menstrual pad!

Some of the comments on the above photo are too good to ignore.

"Thank God it's clean"

"hey - at least it'll be a clean stop..."

"There’s nothing funny about this,period!"

You can read them all here.