ADOT: Vote for favorite freeway signs
Advisories mix humor, advice for safe driving
The Arizona Department of Transportation has been delivering one-liners to Phoenix-area motorists throughout the year by flashing funny safedriving reminders on electronic freeway sign boards.
Now the agency is seeking feedback on its holiday-inspired messages.
ADOT is asking people to review and vote on four seasonal messages featured over the Christmas weekend by indicating whether the notices were “hot” or “cold.”
Two alluded to Santa Claus and the other two referenced popular holiday film classics:
❚ It’s a Wonderful Life. Drive safely. ❚ Buckle up! We triple-dog dare ya! ❚ He knows if you’ve been bad or good. Speeding is bad.
❚ Ho-ho-hold down your speed. Santa’s watching.
Votes can be registered at azdot.gov under the ADOT Blog section or here.
The department has been mixing humor with safe-driving reminders on the electronic signs throughout the year, often drawing from current events or popular movies.
During the baseball playoff between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies, for example, ADOT flashed the message: “Don’t be a wild card. Drive like a champ.“
During the premiere of a Star Wars movie, it admonished drivers to “Trust the force but always buckle up.“
Another one, “Sober driver? Dilly! Dilly!“touched on the humor in a recent Bud Light TV commercial.
Earlier this year, the agency held a contest allowing people to submit their own safety message suggestions.
About 3,500 entries were submitted in the first 24 hours. ADOT officials then asked the public to vote from among 20 finalists. Two winners were selected and their messages later were displayed on freeway signs. Reach the reporter at russ.wiles@ arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8616.