"Urgent Make An Accident": Hilarious Signboard Mistranslation Goes Viral In Karnataka

On highways we have often seen emergency sign boards installed to tell the riders about roads and advise them to drive slowly. But one of the emergency sign boards which is installed on a highway near Sampaje along with the Madikeri to Mangalore National Highway 275 has gained attention on the internet because of its English mistranslation from Kannada language. 

The viral image was posted on X by a user named ‘Kodagu Connect’ in which a sign board is installed along the highway and it has two languages on it. First in Kannada and second is English, which reads, “URGENT MAKE AN ACCIDENT,” which is totally incorrect. The English line on the signboard is a mistranslation of a Kannada phrase, “Avasarave Apaghatakke Karana,” which means, “Overspeeding is the reason for accidents.” But instead of writing overspeeding they wrote “urgent.”

Although the authenticiy of the location is not verified. 

Check out the post:

The post has got more than 50,000 impressions with over 500 likes. 

But now the mistake has happened and it has left people on the internet in laughter and divided opinions. While some of the users questioned the efforts of the government, some users found the error a point of fun. 

User’s reactions to the post:

“For a change English gone wrong .. Glad Kannada is fine.”

“Thank god! be happy that they didnt translated kannada using google translator lol.”

“This is hilarious. Wont the authorities be responsible to atleast inspect what is written in these sign boards?   Dont you have any representatives of @NHAI_Official regionally. Moreover it displays that it is the Govt of Karnataka cautioning drivers.”

“One comma after urgent and the meaning will completely change.”

“Something was urgent when the board was designed.”

“Made my day today. Imagine how confused passers by would be reading this board…”

“Better tag insurance agents. They will get it fixed fast.”

In March, residents of Karnataka's Kodagu district created a makeshift sign to warn travelers about a misleading route on Google Maps. The amusing sign advises users to avoid following Google's directions and suggests an alternative path to reach the Club Mahindra resort.

A photo of the sign was posted by Kodagu Connect on their X handle. The sign humorously states, "Google is wrong. This road does not go to Club Mahindra." Frustrated by the constant influx of lost travelers seeking directions after being misguided by Google Maps, the local villagers decided to put up the sign.