By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

As motorists travel on Arizona’s state highways on Feb. 14, they’ll see a Valentine’s Day safety message displayed on overhead signs.

Making the choice to drive safely is one of the best ways to show loved ones how much they’re cared for. More than 90 percent of vehicle collisions are caused by driver decisions, including speeding, driving aggressively, distracted or impaired, meaning nearly all crashes are probably preventable.

We can’t promise candy hearts or roses to safe drivers, but we’ll be a not-so-secret admirer of those who make smart and safe decisions behind the wheel.

By Caroline Carpenter / ADOT Communications

"Hamilton," one of the most successful Broadway musicals ever, opened at ASU Gammage last night. The show made a splash on Broadway and on ADOT’s social media sites. In case you missed it, Hamilton-themed freeway message boards were a hit with our followers.

Thanks to all of your tweets, "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda even took notice of our signs. Many on Twitter offered their own puns and a few asked for a job with ADOT. Fans even came up with the hashtag #ADOTaMusical.

Our Twitter Moment below gives you a quick rundown of some of the tweets we received and the signs that kicked off hundreds of retweets and nearly 2,000 "likes."

Hamilton heads off-Broadway and onto ADOT message boards

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

When it comes to posting traffic safety messages on overhead signs, we often look for opportunities to craft messages related to pop culture or local events.

So, when the biggest Broadway musical in decades arrives in Arizona, we were not throwing away our shot at the opportunity to engage motorists in making safe decisions behind the wheel.

Across Arizona today, about 100 Dynamic Message Signs will display a safety message related to “Hamilton,” the international hit that today begins a four-week run at ASU Gammage in Tempe.

What message will be displayed on signs? Wait for it, wait for it…

Travelers on Arizona’s highways will see the message “TALK LESS // DRIVE MORE,” on overhead signs throughout the state. #Hamilfans will certainly understand the reference, while others may see it as a simple anti-distracted driving request.

In addition to that message, we are sharing three others that we liked, but won’t appear above state highways.

What comes next? Be our right-hand man and encourage your friends and family to make safe choices when driving.

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

All of us see these dangerous occurrences on the roads we drive – even some of our closest family members and friends are guilty of it – and it needs to stop. Driving distracted is selfish but its consequences go far beyond the distracted driver, resulting in thousands of crashes and dozens of entirely preventable fatalities every year in Arizona.We all know it’s not a good idea to text and drive. Or fiddle with a navigation system for too long or doing anything else from the driver’s seat that takes away our attention from driving.

Gov. Doug Ducey has proclaimed Jan. 22-28 Distracted Driving Awareness Week, making this a good time to remind people that safer roads are, literally, in their hands. Here are some things we can all do to keep drivers’ eyes on the road and not their phones:

• If you know someone is driving, don’t text them.
• If your smartphone has the capability, engage the “do not disturb while driving” feature.
• Parents, set an example for kids and don’t reach for the phone when driving.
• In addition to smartphones, keep your hand free of food, drinks, makeup, electric shavers, toothbrushes (we’ve all seen that one guy, right?) and anything else that pulls your attention from driving.

Did you know that taking five seconds to send or read a text, while driving 55 mph, is like traveling the length of a football field with your eyes closed? A lot can happen in that span. Please, that text can wait.

This post originally appeared on ADOT Director John Halikowski's
LinkedIn page. He has led the agency since 2009.

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

There’s never a good time to drink and drive. But playing the I-just-had-two-drinks-and-I’m-OK-to-make-home-game during a festive holiday like New Year’s Eve is plain stupid. State, county and local law enforcement agencies will be out in force looking for impaired drivers and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is supporting DUI patrols statewide.

The alternatives to driving drunk are endless: designate a driver, call a cab or ride service, take light rail, call AAA's Tipsy Tow, or sleep it off at a friend’s house, to name a few options.

Not only can driving drunk kill – last year, alcohol was a factor in three fatal crashes during the New Year’s holiday – it can be costly, too. The Arizona Department of Public Safety lays out the penalties for a DUI.

In the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, overhead message boards will remind drivers to stay sober behind the wheel. Enjoy ringing in the new year, but do it safely.

While you’ve been shopping for the holiday and enjoying time with the family, ADOT elves have been posting holiday safety messages on electronic boards across the state. Let us know which signs were “hot” or “cold” by swiping right for those signs you like and left for those that leave you “cold.”

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

Unless you’re taking the reins of a magical flying sleigh with nine reindeer, there’s no need to speed this weekend. Slow down, obey speed limits and secure your spot on Santa’s Nice List.

As you travel Arizona’s highways in the days leading up to Christmas, you’ll see safe-driving holiday-themed reminders on our overhead signs to slow down and buckle up. The first message riffs on the popular movie, “A Christmas Story.”

Before hitting the highways, download the ADOT Alerts app – it’s free for iOS and Android devices – so you’ll know if highways near you are affected by a major, unplanned event, like a crash-related closure or severe weather.

And here’s an early Christmas gift from all of us at ADOT: No highway closures are scheduled during the Christmas and New Year’s weekends.

By Caroline Carpenter / ADOT Communications

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" premieres today, and many driving to the theater will see the latest installment of related safety messages on our overhead highway signs.

Many love seeing these messages. Some don't. Either way, they're always talked about. And that's what we want – messages that kick off conversations about safe driving.

This isn't the first time we've linked the popular movies to highway safety. Last year, ADOT offered Star Wars-related messages calling attention to the dangers of distracted driving.

Join the rebellion against distracted driving

If you're a Star Wars superfan, you'll want to make sure you check out the first Star Wars message we posted a couple of years ago.

Whether you're headed to see the movie or not, we hope you'll follow the way of the Jedi and stay focused on getting there safely.

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

Arizona’s highways will be filled with Thanksgiving holiday travelers this week. Because we want everyone to reach their destinations safely, we're encouraging safe driving through unconventional safety messages on overhead signs.

On Wednesday, “Sober Driver? Dilly! Dilly!” appeared on a selection of overhead signs statewide. The message is a play on a popular meme. Three additional Thanksgiving-related safety messages will appear on signs through Sunday.

Two years ago, on the day before Thanksgiving, we displayed our first quirky safety message. Overhead signs around the state reminded Arizonans that drinking and driving go together like peas and guac. That went viral, and we’ve been picking opportunities to deliver similar messages ever since.

Our safety messages frequently reference pop culture, local events and holidays because those things are front-of-mind for many people. We want to make a connection between people’s interests, whether it’s a U2 concert or a football game or the MLB playoffs, and safe driving. We hope this approach and these unconventional safety messages resonate and prompt conversations among drivers, both in person and via social media, and change driver behavior because speeding, reckless driving and impairment are among the leading factors in fatal crashes.