A road sign with holes can be alarming at first glance. You’re not alone: it’s a natural reaction to an unusual look for a common item you’ve likely seen intact thousands of times. But before you assume the worst, there may be a good reason why that stop sign looks the way it does: sometimes those holes are intentional. Engineers design some traffic signs with perforations to hold up in rough conditions to prevent wear or irreparable damage. Learn about what those holes actually do, how to tell the difference between damage and design, why they matter for safety, and where you’re most likely to see them. Why Some Stop Signs Have Intentional Holes Small, evenly spaced holes on road signs reduce wind resistance by allowing air to pass through rather than pushing directly against the sign. It might not sound like a big deal, but that small tweak goes a long way toward reducing wear. Solid signs block wind, stressing the post and hardware holding the sign together.…