Arizonans with a knack for concise creativity and a passion for road safety are getting another shot at public service announcement fame. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is calling on the public to submit their safety slogans for its annual Safety Message Contest—the ninth of its kind. With a blend of humor and gravity, these slogans aim to be more than mere words; they are lifelines cast across the digital transoms hovering over the State’s highways.
Entries are currently welcomed through Sept. 22, accessible through ADOT's website. The winning slogans, as ADOT Director Jennifer Toth says, serve a crucial purpose. "Safety is ADOT’s top priority and it’s our mission to safely connect Arizonans to where they want to go," Toth explained in a statement. The contest isn't just about who can craft the snappiest one-liner—it's about embedding safety in the State’s collective consciousness.
Community participation in the contest has a track record for sparking dialogue on safe driving habits. Submissions need to fit within the constraints of the digital signs—three lines and 18 characters per line—but eschew the use of #hashtags, emojis, and website addresses. Messages should directly relate to traffic safety, a critical issue when considering that national crash data has tied around 90% of vehicle crashes to driver decisions, including speeding, distraction, and impairment.
On an even more pressing note, ADOT emphasizes the gravity of these safe driving reminders. According to statewide crash data mentioned in ADOT's announcement, there were 1,228 people killed in crashes on Arizona’s roads in 2024. Many of these deaths were deemed preventable—347 fatalities were linked to alcohol-related crashes, and speeding was a factor in crashes that led to 417 fatalities. The contest is more than just a creative exercise; it's a campaign to save lives.
The public can submit their safety slogan ideas as many times as they want before the deadline. Those that strike a chord with ADOT's review panel will be shared with the public for a vote.
