In recent years, message boards above roadways have used creative slogans or pop culture references to advocate for safe driving. Those quirky messages may not only be more interesting, but also more effective.
Road signs with humorous slogans or song lyric puns can sometimes garner viral attention on social media. Now, a recent study conducted by Virginia Tech shows those messages resonate more with drivers. In 2015, Arizona was one of the first states to utilize the creative public-safety alerts.
Arizona Department of Transportation's Doug Nick says the key to delivering a good message is relevancy.
“We understand that people tend to really like them," Nick said. "They tend to be more memorable if you can tie them to a cultural event, maybe a concert or something on those lines. Or if you can tie it to the holidays, we do that. Whether it’s Fourth of July, Christmas, or whatever.”
Nick says one highlight of the messaging program came when the band U2 retweeted a picture of a sign that read: “Don’t Move in Mysterious Ways — Use Your Blinker.” It was a nod to one of U2’s hit songs while the band was in town for a concert.
