Don't Hit The Car in Front of You': Bizarre Taxpayer Funded Sign Just Outside D.C. Stirs Controversy

A Virginia official on Friday defended displaying an electronic billboard sign issuing drivers seemingly obvious advice: "Don't hit the car in front of you."

The sign was purchased and erected just outside Washington D.C. by the Arlington County Police Department, costing taxpayers about $13,000, Lieutenant David Green Jr. told TheBlaze Friday afternoon.

He defended the sign, which has been displayed for about two months, saying the area is "one of the highest accident areas in the County."

"Almost 100% of the accidents at this location are rear end collisions," he added.

A road sign just outside Washington D.C. tells drivers "don't hit the car in front of you." (Photo credit: @amandaxanderson)

Local resident, Amanda Anderson, who alerted TheBlaze to the sign, said the sign was an example of government waste and said she trusts individuals not to "purposefully hit the car in front of them."

"I am dismayed to see my hard-earned tax dollars going towards expensive signs which tell me what to do," Anderson added.

Another local resident, Paul-Martin Foss, said the sign in and of itself poses a threat to drivers on the road.

"Not only are these types of signs insulting to the vast majority of us who are competent drivers, but they're also incredibly dangerous," Foss said.

He added that "money is being spent on patronizing signs that state the obvious and cause the distracted driving they're ostensibly intended to prevent."

Green Jr. said previous signs in the area included "safety is no accident" and "maintain safe following distance," but were replaced by the new sign because "none of the [previous] messages seem[ed] to have made an impact to accidents at this location."

"The current message was an attempt to simplify the message as much as possible," he added.

The Lietenant also noted that since the sign is an electronic billboard, his department can use it for other purposes, if needed.

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