ARIZONA NEWS

ADOT reveals 2 winners for its annual Safety Message Contest

Sep 3, 2023, 8:15 AM

ADOT revealed the writers behind the future slogans...

(Arizona Department of Transportation Photos)

(Arizona Department of Transportation Photos)

PHOENIX – Thousands of drivers in the Valley threw in their hat so they could win the Arizona Department of Transportation’s yearly Safety Message Contest. Two clever slogan writers won the contest and earned their flowers on Friday.

That’s when ADOT revealed which two messages won the most votes out of the 10 finalists.

Out of all the snappy phrases that could potentially go up on signs around Valley freeways, these two will go live:

– Seatbelts always pass the vibe check

– I’m just a sign asking a driver to use turn signals

ADOT revealed the writers behind the future slogans

ASU business professor Elise Riker came up with the first slogan. “I hope the message makes people chuckle and happy that they are wearing a seatbelt,” she said in a statement. “You pass the vibe check!”

Mesa-based software engineer Gina Finkelstein took inspiration from the 1999 movie “Notting Hill” for her slogan. It’s a spoof on the famous line, “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”

“Using turn signals before you turn makes you a total star, just like Julia Roberts,” she said. “Only bigger and better!”

ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said it was exciting to rifle through the 3,700 entries – and to see the public’s enthusiasm once they could vote for their favorites.

“The purpose of the contest is to kick-start conversations about making better decisions behind the wheel, so everyone can reach their destination safely,” she said.

Riker and Finkelstein typed their safety message into ADOT’s Dynamic Message Sign Systems on Friday. This weekend is the first time their signs go live on overhead message boards across the state.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona News

An Arizona woman pleaded guilty in a fraud scheme that generated millions of dollars for herself an...

David Veenstra

Arizona woman pleads guilty in fraud scheme that benefited North Korea

An Arizona woman pleaded guilty in a fraud scheme that generated millions of dollars for herself and for North Korea. 

45 minutes ago

A retired deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was convicted of luring a minor i...

David Veenstra

Retired LA deputy convicted of luring a minor in Arizona

A retired deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was convicted of luring a minor in Arizona, authorities announced on Tuesday.

2 hours ago

Man shot in head in Tempe...

KTAR.com

Man shot in head in Tempe trying to drive himself to hospital crashes into vehicles

A man who was shot in the head and attempting to drive himself to the hospital crashed into two vehicles on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

3 hours ago

Mesa Public Schools is planning layoffs....

Kevin Stone

Mesa Public Schools reveals details about how many jobs it plans to cut

Mesa Public Schools, the state’s largest public school district, released new details about its previously announced plan for layoffs.

4 hours ago

Edmund Davis...

Danny Shapiro

Man connected to Alicia Navarro case gets 100-year prison sentence for sexual abuse of children

A Montana man who admitted he was the boyfriend of Alicia Navarro, the Glendale girl who went missing for four years, received a 100-year prison sentence for sexual abuse of children, authorities announced Tuesday.

5 hours ago

$50K winning Powerball ticket sold in Scottsdale Safeway...

Serena O'Sullivan

Powerball ticket worth $50K sold in Scottsdale grocery store

A winning Powerball ticket worth $50,000 was recently sold in a Safeway in Scottsdale, according to a Tuesday Arizona Lottery news release.

6 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Collins Comfort Masters: Your go-to plumbing experts in Arizona

Collins Comfort Masters, a trusted name in HVAC, water and plumbing since 1985, is you go-to plumbers for the residents of Phoenix and the Valley.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to start your retirement planning early and avoid costly mistakes

Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you can avoid costly pitfalls.

...

The UPS Store

How The UPS Store is giving back to the community

PHOENIX -- As 2024 nears a close, The UPS Store is looking to give back to the Arizona community with the holiday season approaching.

ADOT reveals 2 winners for its annual Safety Message Contest