Iowa's funny highway signs are under review amidst new federal rules

• That could include messages like "Get your head out of your apps."

Why it matters: To know Iowa drivers is to love them in spite of hanging out in the left lane or failing at zipper merging.

• The signs brought mirth to our roadways and were also effective at grabbing attention.

What's happening: The highway administration wants messages that are "simple, direct, brief, legible and clear."

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

What they're saying: The Iowa DOT is reviewing the new recommendations and will spend the next few weeks determining how it will impact the state's message program, spokesperson Andrea Henry tells Axios.

The bottom line: Back in 2015, Tracey Bramble of the Iowa DOT said it best about the clever messaging:

• "We're doing this to try to save lives," Bramble told the Register. "We're not doing it to get a chuckle. … We're trying to change people's behavior."