PHOENIX – The votes have been tallied and the public has picked the winners of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Safety Message Contest!

More than 3,200 votes were cast by the public on 10 finalists. The two winning traffic safety messages are:

DRIVE WITH CARE
LIFE HAS NO SPARE

WATCH YOUR SPEED
NOT YOUR
SOCIAL FEED

“It’s encouraging to see thousands of Arizonans take part in our Safety Message Contest year after year. It shows that they care about safe driving habits like not speeding, avoiding distractions and wearing seatbelts,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said. “We hope this contest helps start conversations about how all drivers can do their part to make travel safer for everyone.”

During the first phase of the traffic safety campaign contest, members of the public submitted more than 2,500 entries. Those messages were narrowed down to 10 finalists and shared with the public so that they could vote and determine the winners.

The two people who submitted the winning messages were invited to ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center to type their messages into the Dynamic Message Sign system and see them go live via highway cameras. Both messages will be displayed on overhead message boards during Labor Day weekend. 

Dori Brock, who lives in Casa Grande, said that “drive with care, life has no spare” was a saying her mom would tell her growing up, especially when she started driving. She said she hoped drivers would think about its meaning. 

“When the message goes live, I’m hoping my mom will be looking down from heaven and be thankful that her saying will be seen by so very many people. Also, that it will be saving lives on our busy freeways,” Brock said. 

David Dixon, who lives in Ahwatukee, submitted the other winning message, “watch your speed, not your social feed.” He said he bounced different phrases off his wife until she liked one he came up with.

“Hopefully, the message gives drivers a chuckle, but more importantly makes drivers focus on safe driving habits that get us all home safe,” Dixon said.

ADOT displays traffic safety messages as part of a campaign to engage Arizonans about making better decisions behind the wheel. National crash data shows more than 90% of vehicle crashes are caused by driver decisions, which include drivers choosing to drive impaired, distracted, aggressively or at unsafe speeds.

PHOENIX – Well done, Arizona!

Arizonans submitted more than 2,500 entries to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s annual Safety Message Contest. Entries from that pool have been narrowed down to 10 finalists — and now it’s up to the public to select the winners. 

Through Tuesday, Aug. 20, Arizonans can view and vote on their favorite safety messages at azdot.gov/SignContest. The two messages that receive the most votes will be crowned the winners and displayed on ADOT’s overhead message signs statewide as part of a safety campaign to influence driver behavior.

“Thousands of Arizonans submitted thoughtful and engaging messages, and showed that they support safe driving practices like not speeding and not texting and driving,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said. “We hope drivers in Arizona continue to have conversations about safe driving behaviors so everyone can make it safely to their destination.”

This is the eighth year that ADOT has held its Safety Message Contest.  

ADOT displays traffic safety messages as part of a campaign to engage Arizonans about making better decisions behind the wheel. National crash data shows more than 90% of vehicle crashes are caused by driver decisions, which include drivers choosing to drive impaired, distracted, aggressively or at unsafe speeds.

According to statewide crash data, 1,307 people were killed in crashes on Arizona’s roads in 2023 and many of these deaths were preventable. For example, in 2023 in Arizona, 446 people were killed in speed-related crashes, 332 people died in alcohol-related crashes and 361 people died who were not using a safety device, like a seatbelt or motorcycle helmet. Avoiding these unsafe behaviors makes travel safer for everyone.

PHOENIX – The votes are in and the winners of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Safety Message Contest have been selected! 

Thousands of votes were cast by the public last month for 10 message finalists. The two winning traffic safety messages are:

SEATBELTS

ALWAYS PASS

THE VIBE CHECK

I’M JUST A SIGN

ASKING A DRIVER TO

USE TURN SIGNALS

“Seeing thousands of Arizonans participate in our Safety Message Contest, from creating their own messages to voting for other safety messages, is exciting and a positive for all of us,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said. “The purpose of the contest is to kick-start conversations about making better decisions behind the wheel, so everyone can reach their destination safely.”

During the first phase of the contest, 3,700 entries were submitted. Those entries were whittled down to 10 finalists, and a public vote last month determined the winners. Today, authors of the two winning messages were invited to ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center in Phoenix to type their traffic safety message into the Dynamic Message Sign system and see them go live via highway cameras. Both winning messages will appear on overhead message boards statewide through the weekend.

Elise Riker, a Chandler resident, is a business professor at Arizona State University and submitted one of the winning traffic safety messages.

“I hope the message makes people chuckle and happy that they are wearing a seatbelt: you pass the vibe check!,” she said.

Gina Finkelstein, a software support engineer from Mesa, was inspired by the 1999 film, “Notting Hill” when she created her winning traffic safety message.

“Using turn signals before you turn makes you a total star,” she said, “just like Julia Roberts in ‘Notting Hill,’ only bigger and better!”

ADOT displays unconventional safety messages on overhead signs as part of an effort to change driver behavior and encourage motorists to make better decisions while driving. According to national statistics, driver behavior, like choosing to speed, driving distracted, impaired or reckless, plays a role in more than 90% of vehicle crashes.

PHOENIX – Way to go, Arizona!

Arizonans submitted more than 3,700 entries to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s annual Safety Message Contest. Those entries have been narrowed to 10 finalists and now the responsibility turns back to the public, who will vote for their favorites and send two traffic safety messages to ADOT’s recognizable overhead message boards.

Through Aug. 15, anyone can view and vote for contest finalists at azdot.gov/SignContest. The two messages that are the top vote-getters will be displayed on Dynamic Message Signs statewide.

“Thousands of Arizonans believe that making better decisions while driving is important for safety, and they’re  making their voices heard,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said. “We hope these conversations continue because when we all choose to make better decisions behind the wheel, everyone can reach their destinations safely.”

This is the seventh year ADOT has held its annual Safety Message Contest. 

ADOT displays unconventional 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. 

According to national crash data, more than 90 percent of vehicle collisions are caused by driver decisions, including choosing to speed, drive recklessly, distracted or impaired. In Arizona, vehicle collisions killed 1,294 people in 2022.

PHOENIX – Have you ever traveled past one of the unconventional traffic safety messages that the Arizona Department of Transportation displays on overhead message boards and thought, “Hey, I can do that!”?

Well, your time to shine is here! ADOT’s eagerly anticipated Safety Message Contest returns for its seventh year, and we’re inviting Arizonans to submit their most creative and engaging traffic safety messages. You can submit entries through Tuesday, July 25, at azdot.gov/SignContest.

The contest gives Arizonans the opportunity to see their clever safety messages displayed on Dynamic Message Signs statewide, encouraging drivers to make better decisions behind the wheel.

“Safety is a priority at ADOT; nothing is more important,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said. “We want these messages to spark conversations about safe driving. Real change happens when drivers prioritize safety and choose not to drive recklessly, distracted or impaired.” 

When creating a message – there’s no limit to the number of entries you can submit – follow these guidelines:

• The message must relate to traffic safety.

• Signs accommodate three lines, 18 characters per line.

• #Hashtags, phone numbers and website addresses are not allowed.

• No emojis.

ADOT will select at least 10 finalists, then the public will decide the winners. The two messages that receive the most votes will appear on overhead message boards along Arizona’s highways.

ADOT displays quirky traffic safety messages as part of an effort to encourage drivers to change their actions behind the wheel. We all need a reminder about safe driving because, according to national crash data, more than 90 percent of vehicle crashes are caused by driver decisions, such as drivers choosing to speed and to drive aggressively, distracted or impaired. According to crash data, 1,180 people were killed in traffic collisions on Arizona’s roads in 2021.