PHOENIX – Man’s best friend and a clever play on words were the big winners in the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Safety Message Contest.

After tallying more than 5,000 votes for the 15 safety message finalists, the winning messages are:

Both messages will appear on overhead signs state through the weekend.

“These messages are wonderful and because the public invested their time into voting for their favorites, hopefully they carry a little more meaning and drivers will take the messages to heart when they see them this weekend over Arizona’s highways,” said  ADOT Director John Halikowski. “Even as a cat owner, I can appreciate the sentiment of wanting to live up to being the people our pets believe us to be.”

Authors of the winning messages were invited to ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center where they had the opportunity to type their messages into the system and see them displayed on overhead messages boards. Mitzie Warner of Chandler submitted the “dog” message and David Posey of San Tan Valley contributed the “see new bars” message.

Warner said she was excited when she heard about the contest and admitted to “probably overthinking it” before coming up with a winning message.

“Dogs see the best in us,” Warner said. “If we all drove like the people they believe us to be – a little nicer, a little more courtesy – it’d be much better.”

Posey isn’t a stranger to safety. He’s worked in mining for two decades and said every meeting he’s been in has started off with a “safety share.”

“I just want everyone to know with all the options we have out there today, like Uber and Lyft,” Posey said. “There is no sense in risking hurting someone else or yourself.”

Displaying traffic safety messages on overhead signs is one way that ADOT and other traffic safety stakeholders in Arizona are trying to change driver behavior. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 90% of vehicle collisions are caused by driver decisions, including choosing to speed, drive recklessly, distracted or impaired.

PHOENIX – Well done, Arizona.

The Arizona Department of Transportation received more than 3,200 entries in its Safety Message Contest earlier this month. Now, those entries have been narrowed down to 15 finalists and it’s up to the public to choose the winners.

From today through Monday, May 20, you can view and vote for your favorite safety message at azdot.gov/signcontest. The two messages that receive the most votes will be displayed on Dynamic Message Signs statewide.

“If drivers want safety and less stress, the solution is as close as the steering wheel in your hands,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “One of the interesting things about the contest is seeing the messages submitted and what really matters to people when it comes to transportation safety. People are fed up with drivers that choose to speed, drive distracted or drunk, and want to see more courtesy on the roads.”

ADOT displays unconventional safety messages to encourage drivers to make better decisions behind the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 90 percent of vehicle collisions are caused by driver decisions, including choosing to speed, drive recklessly, distracted or impaired.  

PHOENIX – It’s back.

For the third time, the Arizona Department of Transportation is holding its Safety Message Contest, giving you the chance to see your punny, witty, snarky or serious safety slogans on overhead signs, encouraging drivers to make better decisions behind the wheel.

Messages can be submitted at azdot.gov/signcontest through Monday, April 29. In the past two contests, ADOT received a combined 9,000 entries.

“We’re not joking about safety – nothing is more important than safety at ADOT,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Some of the messages we display are humorous, but we’re using that humor to connect with drivers and get them thinking about the things that lead to preventable crashes and fatalities. These messages kickstart conversations about safety and that’s a good thing.”

ADOT displays quirky traffic safety messages, which often are related to current events and pop culture, as part of an effort to encourage drivers to change their actions behind the wheel. More than 90 percent of vehicle crashes are caused by driver decisions, such as speeding, driving aggressively, distracted or impaired. According to preliminary data, more than 1,000 people were killed in traffic collisions last year in Arizona.

When creating your messages – there’s no limit to the number you can submit – remember these guidelines:

• The message must relate to traffic safety.
• Signs accommodate three lines and 18 characters, including spaces, per line.
• #Hashtags, phone numbers and website addresses are not allowed.
• No emoji ☹.

After entries have been submitted, ADOT will select 15 finalists. In May, the public will vote for their favorites and the two messages that receive the most votes will appear on overhead signs above Arizona state highways.

PHOENIX – “How long until we get there?”

If you’re used to hearing those words over and over while driving on Interstate 17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff, the answer is now on the Arizona Department of Transportation’s electronic message boards.

As it does along Phoenix-area freeways, ADOT has started posting estimated travel times via I-17 to Cordes Junction, Prescott, Sedona, Flagstaff and other points north of the Valley.

The display of I-17 travel times is a first for a rural section of the state’s highway system. For a decade, ADOT’s message boards have provided travel times to Valley drivers. Those posted travel times have been a popular feature with commuters.

“One reason we’re expanding along I-17 is that winter weather can affect travel times to or from key destinations in northern Arizona,” said Brent Cain, who leads ADOT’s Transportation Systems Management and Operations division. “Estimated times that reflect highway conditions can assist drivers with their travel plans.”

I-17 is one of Arizona’s Key Commerce Corridors, serving as the primary route for moving people, goods and services between the Phoenix area and northern Arizona communities.

On a recent morning, with no weather-related delays or backups due to traffic incidents, a message board north of Jomax Road estimated 120 minutes to travel 125 miles to Flagstaff and 40 minutes to travel 43 miles to the State Route 69 interchange in Cordes Junction.

A message board such as the one on northbound I-17 near Sunset Point Rest Area can tell those heading to Sedona whether State Route 260 or State Route 179 is the most efficient route. Southbound I-17 message boards can tell drivers whether State Route 169 or State Route 69 is the better option to Prescott.

While travel times posted in the Valley come from ADOT’s in-pavement traffic-flow sensors, the new I-17 travel times draw on real-time traffic data from INRIX, a mobility analytics company that helps transportation agencies monitor, measure and manage traffic information. ADOT designed a software application to automatically process this data for I-17, something that can eventually be used on other busy routes.

“Using data from the marketplace allows us to expand our ability to support informed and safe travel around the state,” Cain said.

PHOENIX – With drivers heading out on Memorial Day weekend trips along state highways, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s network of message signs will carry essential travel and safety information.

Messages ranging from “Crash Ahead Right Lane Blocked” to “Drive Sober” can be displayed on the more than 250 electronic boards that ADOT uses to keep travelers up to date across the Grand Canyon State. The signs also will be used to remind drivers about extreme wildfire conditions.

With Interstate 17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff one of the busiest highways on holiday weekends, ADOT has over the past year installed four new message boards at key locations between Anthem and the State Route 69 interchange at Cordes Junction.

The two newer northbound I-17 message signs, near Table Mesa Road and Mud Springs Road in the Black Canyon City area, provide information about highway conditions or offer safety tips as drivers start the climb up the mountainous stretch to Sunset Point.

The two newer southbound message boards at Cordes Junction and approaching the Sunset Point Rest Area also play a key role in keeping motorists up to date, especially if traffic has been slowed or stopped due to an incident as travelers return to the Phoenix area.

There are now 17 message boards along I-17 between north Phoenix and Flagstaff.

ADOT also provides highway condition information via its Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT. Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov. When a freeway closure or other major traffic event occurs, our free app available at ADOTAlerts.com will send critical information directly to app users in affected areas – where possible, in advance of alternate routes.