The Town of Hilton Head Island plans to build two new traffic circles on Main Street on Hilton Head. One would be at the intersection of Wilborn Road and the other would be located at Hospital Center Boulevard.
Drew Martin
dmartin@islandpacket.com
One practicality of travel is, of course, the journey itself. When traveling to the Lowcountry, you may be surprised to find no billboards, no neon signs and an apparent lack of streetlights.
From warmer weather, beach access, biking, fishing and golfing, you’ll have the chance to dive into a whole new array of experiences in Lowcountry life.
But one of the things you may want to add to that list is adjusting to the different kinds of signs you’ll see and figuring out how to drive on roads without streetlights.
Here are some unique aspects to consider if you’re navigating the island for the first time or if you’re a local just looking for some additional travel tips.
Why are Hilton Head’s signs and lights like this?
The Town of Hilton Head Island strives to have all of its posted signs and lights adhere to standards that help protect, preserve and overall enhance the unique character and natural beauty of the island.
Put simply, all the signs you see posted across the island are designed to be compatible with their natural surroundings and the buildings they connect with. The lack of streetlights is also intended to help protect natural beauty and wildlife.
What are Hilton Head’s ordinances on signs?
One of the ways that Hilton Head helps preserve and maintain the kinds of signs you see throughout the area is through its ordinances.
The reasons for these stricter rules on signs include:
Preserving the aesthetics of the island
To avoid creating a distracting commercial atmosphere
Remove visible and physical clutter caused by signs, as they compete for the attention of pedestrians, drivers and cyclists, which can be dangerous.
The Town of Hilton Head Island even has its own Design Guide that defines how development should look to help preserve the island’s character.
Some of the pointers from this guide include:
Using natural materials, textures and colors.
Coordinate and harmonize the design of structures, parking and site amenities.
Conceal visually undesirable utilities and equipment.
There is also a rule that sign colors cannot be non-reflective and that they cannot contain fluorescent colors.
Here is what some stop signs may look like along the public pathways on the island.
A Beaufort County Sheriff’s Deputy drives along Gum Tree Road at the intersection with Katie Miller Road on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 on Hilton Head Island. Drew Martin dmartin@islandpacket.com
What are Hilton Head’s ordinances on streetlights?
Perhaps one of the most surprising aspects of the island is the lack of streetlights. It can be easy to think that due to the large tourism industry in Hilton Head, that streetlights would be an obvious factor.
However, just like with signs, the Town is focused on keeping the natural aesthetic of the island.
With street lights, there is also an argument that the natural light helps preserve wildlife and the island’s beauty.
The Town of Hilton Head Island has specific ordinances regarding street lighting, outlined in its Land Management Ordinance.
Some of these standards that contribute to the lack of streetlights include:
Minimizing light pollution.
Protecting wildlife.
Ensuring the temperature, color and glow align with island aesthetics.
The direction of lights to prevent glare and unnecessary sky-glow.
Are there any dangers?
There have long been conflicting viewpoints on the ordinances for signs and streetlights.
Streetlights cause more of a concern, as pedestrians, bikers and other recreational activities are at a higher risk in the evening hours.
Posted speed limits range between 45 and 55 mph on much of the island’s stretch of 278, meaning that drivers can get farther than or near the edge of their low-beam illumination distance in almost less than two seconds.
Keep in mind that these different kinds of signs can be seen throughout other areas of the Lowcountry. Here is an example of signs aligned with nature in Port Royal:
A welcoming sign to Safe Harbor Port Royal Landing as photographed on Feb. 14, 2024 is located on the Beaufort River in the Town of Port Royal. Safe Harbor is now planning to build a new marina on Battery Creek in the old village part of the town. Drew Martin dmartin@islandpacket.com
Best tips for navigating the Lowcountry
For first-time visitors or maybe those who forgot the oddity of this natural charm, here are some easy tips to make sure you have safe travels across Hilton Head and the entire Lowcountry.
Due to the adherence to natural beauty, signs are often neutral colors.
Signs are often at eye level or lower to the ground.
Normal speed limits and state traffic signs are still posted.
If you are traveling at night, stay in familiar areas and always have your headlights on.
No matter the time of day, pay attention to sidewalks for pedestrians and bikers.
If you’re new to the area, use your GPS services.
Always stay safe and alert when you are driving, walking or cycling.
