---
title: Watch Traffic Signals, Traffic Safety (Japanese and English poster distributed in Japan)
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/watch-traffic-signals-traffic-safety-japanese-1954/
description: A traffic-safety poster. A split-colour silhouette of a uniformed traffic officer points one arm sideways and raises the other.
section: Collection
---

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3. Watch Traffic Signals, Traffic Safety

[![Watch Traffic Signals, Traffic Safety, 1954 US poster: A traffic-safety poster](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/watch-traffic-signals-traffic-safety-japanese-1954.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/watch-traffic-signals-traffic-safety-japanese-1954.jpg)

# Watch Traffic Signals, Traffic Safety (Japanese and English poster distributed in Japan)

A traffic-safety poster. A split-colour silhouette of a uniformed traffic officer points one arm sideways and raises the other, standing on a striped base in front of a gear. The Japanese text reads 'traffic safety' and 'watch the signal'; the English caption reads 'Watch traffic signals'. The tell is a direct instruction with no argument: an everyday civic figure is used to teach a rule of conduct.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

Original (Japanese; English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
交通安全
見よ
信号
毎週が安全週間
WATCH TRAFFIC SIGNALS
```

English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader)

```
Traffic safety
Look (heed)
Signal
Every week is Safety Week
WATCH TRAFFIC SIGNALS
```

[← Always Be Careful, Traffic Safety (Japanese and English poster distributed in Japan)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/always-be-careful-traffic-safety-japanese-1954/) [News Review, 'News in Pictures' spread, July 29, 1954 (English-language page distributed in Beirut) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/news-review-news-in-pictures-july-29-1954/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)