While roadside mailboxes are a necessity in rural areas, they are a potential hazard to a vehicle. The Federal Highway Administration conducted extensive research on this subject. Findings indicated mailboxes were mounted at a height which breaks the windshield and enters the vehicle if hit at high speed. Additionally, massive mailbox stands of brick or stone column can stop vehicle and pose a hazard similar to hitting a concrete wall. For this reason, rigid ornamental mailboxes are not allowed on county roads. Rigid mailboxes located on county right-of-way determined to be a hazard will be removed by county maintenance. Ornamental mailbox mountings such as wagon wheels, limestone fence posts, cream cans, and plows are also considered roadside hazards.

For traffic safety reasons we recommend the following:
- Standard mailboxes approved by the Post Office
- Mailboxes can be painted or decorated. We suggest light colors so the box shows up better a night.
- Don't use red reflectors because they can cause confusion with car tail lights.
- Posts should be no larger than a 4" x 4" wood post or 2" outside diameter steel pipe and set as far off the road as possible with the box cantilevered towards the road.