Love letter to Massachusetts' highway signs: RIP 'use yah blinkah,' 'stay classy'

• The electronic highway messages that brought some levity during traffic jams will be phased out by 2026 under new federal rules.
• That includes the "use yah blinkahs" signs that debuted in 2014, and the "stay classy, Massachusetts" signs that went live later.

Why it matters: To know Bay State drivers is to love them in spite of their terrible, aggressive driving.

• They don't call us Massholes for nothing.

Zoom in: The highway administration wants messages that are "simple, direct, brief, legible and clear" … and devoid of humor.

• Really. The administration's new manual cautions against signs that are "intended to be humorous" or have pop culture references lest they be misunderstood by most drivers.

Yes, but: Just about everyone in Massachusetts knows what a "blinker" is.

• Some even heed the signs' warnings.

Steph's thought bubble: To the state workers behind those signs, thank you for making us laugh while we try to survive the MassPike and I-93.