By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

We don’t need an Academy or selfie-taking accountants to tell us who has the best safety message. We want YOU to tell us who has the best entry in ADOT’s safety message contest.

With more than 7,000 submissions, there are now 20 finalists that have advanced to the next round of the contest. From speeding and impairment, texting and seat belt use, to proper use of the HOV lane and general driving safety tips, you get to decide which two messages will appear on signs above Arizona’s highways.

With so many great submissions, ADOT expanded the number of finalists from 15 to 20 and increased the winners from one to two. The winning messages will appear on overhead signs one day each in April.

I commend the creativity displayed from those Arizonans who submitted entries in our safety message contest. We want our residents to be engaged in the conversations about transportation safety. It takes all of us to be good drivers, sharing the road and obeying traffic laws, so we can reduce fatal and serious-injury vehicle crashes.

Do vote by March 15 and I promise you won’t have to worry about wrong envelopes being opened with the winning message.

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

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

Voting has begun.

Earlier this week, we revealed the 20 finalists and opened voting in our Safety Message Contest. Did your message make the cut?

Selecting the finalists wasn’t easy. It took close to a week to read through the nearly 7,000 submissions and whittle the list to 20 finalists. The list has variety – funny, punny and serious – and we think everyone will find something appealing.

Voting is open March 1-15 and we’ll announce the winners – the top two vote-getters will appear on overhead signs – in April.

If your entry didn’t make the list of finalists, there’s still a chance it can find its way to an overhead sign. We have already scheduled a contest entry related to an event this month to appear on signs in March and will consider others throughout the year.

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

After launching our Safety Message Contest last week, we’ve spent most of the past few days sifting through thousands of clever entries.

The response has been so incredible -- we received 4,000 submissions in the first 24 hours -- that we're changing the contest rules. In a good way!

Instead of whittling down to 15 finalists, we'll select 20. And instead of displaying one winning message on Dynamic Message Signs, the top two vote-getters will appear on signs for one day each in April.

Haven’t entered your winning safety message yet? There’s still time! Submissions will be accepted at azdot.gov/signcontest until Sunday, Feb. 19.

When creating your message, follow these guidelines:

• Signs accommodate three lines and 18 characters, including spaces, per line
• #Hashtags, phone numbers and website addresses are not allowed
• Signs can’t accommodate emoji

In March, we'll post the 20 finalists to our website and let the public choose the winners.

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

For many people, Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to take time out and show someone close how much they’re loved.

At the Arizona Department of Transportation, we can’t think of a better way to show those closest to us how much they’re cared for than by choosing to engage in unselfish driving decisions that make roads safer. Whether the people closest to you are in the passenger seat, back seat or another vehicle, choose not to speed, drive aggressively, impaired or distracted, and make sure everyone is always buckled up.

In an effort to make that connection, many overhead highways signs statewide will display the following safety message, “Take it slow on Valentine’s Day, obey speed limit.”

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

Calling all of you creative thinkers! Have you ever thought of a safety message that could appear on a digital message board over one of Arizona’s highways? Here’s your chance to be creative while thinking of important safety messages.

The Arizona Department of Transportation has kicked off our Safety Message Contest. Here is how it works. Safety messages can be submitted at azdot.gov/signcontest until Feb. 19. ADOT will review submissions and select 15 messages to advance to the next round. In March, we’ll post the finalists on our website and let the public decide the winner. The winning message will appear on the message signs for two days in April.

There are certain guidelines that must be followed – only 3 lines and 18 characters per line allowed (including spaces); no phone numbers, hashtags and web addresses permitted; and no emoji.

At ADOT, we have been placing unconventional safety messages on our overhead signs for more than a year. By tapping into the creativity of all Arizonans, we’re hoping to spark even more conversations about safe driving.

Don’t delay; enter as many messages as you like. It’s your turn to be creative in the world of transportation safety.

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

By Steve Elliott / ADOT Communications

So what does ADOT have against traveling to play in the snow?

Nothing, actually. We enjoy throwing snowballs, sledding, etc., as much as anyone. Being able to enjoy mild winters in our deserts and then be playing in the snow in just a few hours is one of the things that makes Arizona so special.

Then why, you may wonder, has ADOT spent so much time of late telling you what NOT to do when you're heading uphill for some winter fun?

Like when we warned against parking on highway shoulders to play in the snow. Or told you that holiday traffic can be heavy around popular snow-play areas, particularly along US 180 outside Flagstaff? Or posted a Facebook video telling you to not pass a snowplow, among other tips? Or warned you that too many people leave for the high country without emergency kits or even proper footwear?

It's simple: We want you to leave prepared and make smart decisions when you reach your winter wonderland of choice, whether that's the Flagstaff area, Mogollon Rim, White Mountains, Prescott or Mount Lemmon. That's part of wanting you to have fun.

With snow in the forecast for Christmas Eve and many people on vacation through New Year's weekend, there's a good chance you're thinking about heading for snow country.

If you do, have a great time. Seriously. Just Know Snow before you go. And be patient: Depending on the severity of the coming storm, it may take our plows some time to get snow and ice off the roads.

Please keep an eye on az511.gov and our Facebook (facebook.com/AZDOT) and Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) accounts for the latest highway conditions. You also can call 511.

We can't resist ending with one last piece of advice: When throwing snowballs (after dressing appropriately, driving safely, parking off the highway, etc.), you'll have more success if you aim for your opponent's center of gravity.

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

We don’t want a hippopotamus for Christmas. In fact, only safe driving on Arizona’s highways will do.

Whether you’re dreaming of a white Christmas and will visit Arizona’s high country or taking a sleigh ride around town, we want you to have yourself a merry little drive.

Aggressive drivers belong on Island of Misfit Toys

To remind drivers that it’s a wonderful life until poor driving decisions are made, holiday movie-themed safety messages will appear on overhead highway signs this week. We drew inspiration from “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Christmas Vacation,” “Elf” and “Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus.”

Take the messages to heart – don’t drive like a Scrooge or Grinch – so you won’t need a miracle on 34th Street.

By Ryan Harding / ADOT Communications

We understand the temptation, but the highway shoulder is NOT a safe place to pull over and play in the snow.

That may seem obvious, but it’s a common mistake people make when heading up north for a day of snow play. As we shared this week, parking along I-17, US 180 or another highway imperils you, your traveling companions, other motorists and first responders.

Among the hazards:

• Other drivers may be distracted by your vehicle.
• Other drivers may pull over as well to play in the snow, compounding the problem.
• Your vehicle may interfere with first responders who need to use the shoulder.
• As shown above, ADOT plows can throw snow and ice far off highways. You don’t want you or your kids hit by the wave from a snowplow. Trust us.

For safety, exit and re-enter highways from on- and off-ramps and other designated entrances. Then park in designated places.

We want your trip to the high country to be fun and memorable. That starts with how you prepare (see azdot.gov/KnowSnow for tips) and continues with where you park.

By Doug Pacey / ADOT Communications

You'll see new signs along two stretches of highway beginning this week – and more are on the way – designating Safety Corridors.

As we shared in our news release, these signs are accompanied by others noting that there will be zero tolerance for violations.

The video above notes the simple reason for Safety Corridors: ADOT, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety want to reduce crashes, severe injuries and fatalities, and getting drivers to focus on speed limits and other rules of the road is a way to do that.

To create Safety Corridors, ADOT and its partners reviewed historic crash data related to driver behavior and sought input from law enforcement.

Each phase of the Safety Corridor rollout focuses on an urban and a rural highway segment:

• In the first phase underway this week, signs are going up on four miles from the I-17 Stack to SR 51/Loop 202 Red Mountain Mini-Stack and on 23 miles of I-10 between the Loop 202 Santan Freeway and State Route 187.
• The second phase will involve 13 miles of US 60 from the Loop 101 Price Freeway to the Loop 202 and 23 miles of I-40 from Kingman east to US 93.

A grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety helped support establishing these Safety Corridors.

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT Deputy Director for Transportation

ADOT crews are ready for what’s ahead this winter. In fact, they prepare year round for the snow and ice. The agency has 400 commercially licensed snowplow drivers and nearly 200 snowplows in its fleet.

While the work those snowplow drivers do is vital for keeping our roads drivable and safe all season, the decisions everyone else makes on the road are equally important.

Please take a moment to review the safety tips below and be sure to share with family and friends.

• Slow Down and Leave Extra Room: Adjust your speed to conditions. Driving slower and leaving space between your vehicle and others when snow and ice are present can improve your ability to brake and prevent skids.
• Leave Prepared: Dress for cold weather, bring extra clothes and gloves, be sure your cellphone is charged, and pack food, water and necessary medications. Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition, starting with the battery, heater/defroster, wiper blades, wiper fluid and brakes.
• Pack an Emergency Kit: For starters, take blankets, a flashlight, an ice scraper, a small shovel, a container of sand for traction and hazard lights or reflectors in case your vehicle becomes disabled.Beware of Black Ice: Black ice tends to form at night when melting snow freezes and is especially common on bridges.
• Stay Up to Date: Visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 to get the latest highway conditions, and pay attention to messages on overhead boards. ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) is an excellent source of information and answers about highway conditions.

Please find more winter driving information, including videos, infographics and blog posts at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.