It snowed last Thursday. On Friday morning, an icy rain added to the mix, making for tricky driving conditions.

How were New Hampshire drivers to know this? Well, they have somehow managed, since the coming of the internal combustion engine, to figure it out.

Some drivers look out the window. Some check the radio or TV weather reports (although the TV types apparently get paid for each time they say “treacherous conditions” no matter what the real conditions).

One way or another, sensible drivers have managed to get around our roads in inclement weather or, if it is truly “treacherous,” they have managed to use their brains and stayed home.

But that is not good enough for state and federal bureaucrats. They are in the midst of spending $9 million of your tax dollars, i.e., “federal grants,” to erect cameras and electronic signage to tell you to slow down when it is snowing. The messages will have no effect on the imbeciles who like to go 75 in such conditions.

No doubt one of these days someone will be able to save 30 minutes of time when an accident on the Spaulding Turnpike or I-93 or Route 101 causes a backup and the electronic sign ahead suggests that you “seek alternate route.” Of course, you may slam the car ahead of you as you try to drive while re-programming your own GPS.

The point is, and we should all remember it each time we pass one of these huge electronic signs, that the country is going broke because of excessive, unnecessary spending like this.

God forbid that the programmers get creative and toss in a “welcome to NH, home of the primary” message in between the catchy “speed kills” and “don’t drink and drive” notes. Or perhaps they could try “Guess how much this sign cost you?”