Japan’s road construction signs are cute cartoon animals

Here in the U.S., we’ve been seeing innovations that save time and money, increase driver safety, raise awareness about construction crews and make other improvements to highway construction. But in Japan, a different and adorable kind of innovation is showing up at highway construction sites. Road construction crews in Japan have begun using animal-shaped barricades (also used as traffic signs) that look like they belong on a playground instead of a construction site. According to Kotaku, the “character barricades,” collaboratively designed by Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido and rental company Sendaimeiban, started making appearances in 2006 and have since become popular on job sites across Japan. - 

See more at the Better Roads website.