Along a stretch of Mastic Road where speeding is common and roadside memorials tell a tragic tale, someone has made a comedic stand.
Handcrafted wooden signs have appeared along the busy thoroughfare, each painted with playful warnings that hide a serious message. One shows a cartoonish chicken in mid-strut, with the words: “Slow Down: Chicken X-ing.” Another features a woolly mammoth and the punning phrase: “Woly Crossing.”
The signs, which appeared anonymously, have stopped traffic—figuratively, if not literally.
“They’re funny, but they really make you think,” said resident Carla Nunez. “We’ve had too many crashes here, too many lives lost. These signs stand out in a way that speed limit signs just don’t.”
That’s likely the intention of the mysterious sign-maker, who has remained unidentified but is clearly fed up with the daily dangers along Mastic Road. Not far from the humorous signs are somber white crosses and memorials marking the sites of fatal collisions.
The creative blend of humor and tragedy has caught the attention of drivers and elected officials alike. “This is someone using creativity for a cause,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, who represents the area. “It’s a reminder that every road sign doesn’t have to be official to be effective.”
The signs are simple: wood, paint, and some imagination. But residents say they’ve had an impact. Some drivers are tapping the brakes, others honking in support, and a few have even pulled over to snap photos.
According to traffic records, Mastic Road has long struggled with speeding and fatal crashes. Despite increased police patrols and signage, enforcement remains a challenge. As one passerby put it: “Maybe it takes a chicken and a woolly mammoth to get people to slow down.”