The application to submit a funny or clever safety message to appear on ADOT’s overhead freeway boards is open for the eighth year in a row. That’s despite new federal guidelines seemingly putting a wet blanket on the fun by discouraging humor and pop culture references on signage.
“There is no ban on these creative messages, the FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) did clarify,” said Department spokesperson Kelsey Mo. “So as long as we are continuing to craft messages that help start important conversations that are clear and have to do with traffic safety, we will continue to do so.”
Over the years, thousands of Arizona residents have entered the annual Safety Message Contest.
“The FHWA wants to avoid messaging that might confuse or distract drivers and so does ADOT,” said Mo. “They want to see good judgment used, and that's what we've been doing for the past several years that we've had these signs that reference pop culture or may include humor.”
When crafting an entry, she said, “we always recommend [to] be creative and unexpected, and the boards do have limited space — we have three lines per board.”
Submissions are open until July 29.
