Because what else does he have to worry about while he's (still) on maternity leave?

That’s not funny!

Pothole Pete has decreed: no more bad jokes on highway traffic signs: “This is serious, gosh darn it!”

The official guidance on reminding people to use their seat belts is remarkably dull.

The Federal Highway Administration lays out its position in the newest edition of a 1,100-plus page Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Flipping to page 519 finds guidance stating humorous signs “might be misunderstood or understood only by a limited segment of road users.” They could also require more time to understand, the manual said.

The book offers a more straightforward example of a traffic-campaign safety message: “UNBUCKLED SEAT BELTS FINE + POINTS.”

Back in the day before interstates, Maine’s Highway Department used to post messages in a Burma Shave fashion, in succession, like this:

Don’t Stick Your Elbow Out Too Far

It Might Go Home

In Another Car

Simply hilarious to this 8-year-old and obviously memorable, because I probably saw it in 1961 or ‘62.

Fortunately, Mayor Pete has delegated responsibility for weightier matters to Lloyd Austin or he will, as soon as the general is located.