The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) brought community engagement to the streets, quite literally, with the announcement of its 2025 Safety Message Contest winners. These victors weren't just chosen in some closed-off committee room but were elected in a veritable freeway of public opinion, with more than 3,700 votes cast for their preferred road safety slogans. Obtained from an ADOT announcement, the two top messages that will be gracing Arizona's Dynamic Message Signs shortly are succinct, snarky, and designed to stick in drivers' brains better than your average billboard.
Among the finalists, the message "CAMP IN THE WOODS, NOT THE LEFT LANE" emerged as a collective favorite, having been submitted by not just one, but a remarkable eight people. After winnowing down over 3,400 initial entries to the crème de la crème, it was these eight individuals - names including Nate Jabjiniak and Holly Anne Taylor from cities spanning Phoenix to Surprise - whose wit would be broadcast to Arizona's drivers. Also standing out in the crowded field of safety slogans, Robert Hopper's "FAST & FURIOUS? TRY SAFE AND COURTEOUS" captured the public's imagination and the contest's top spot, earning its place on the state's overhead signs.
The winners pitched not only their words but their time, too. They were invited to ADOT's Traffic Operations Center, typing their own messages into the Dynamic Message Sign system and watching live as they went up on the highways through the cameras, as part of the interactive prize celebrating their contributions. Following the vote, the overhead message boards served as the canvas for these crowd-approved dictums over the weekend. This isn't just a bit of fun, though – ADOT makes it clear that their larger campaign is all about reducing preventable crashes and fatalities by nudging drivers' decisions in the right direction.
As noted on ADOT's website, more than 90% of vehicle crashes are linked to driver choices, challenging the common misbelief that collisions are merely random events. Echoing this, ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said, "We hope these messages and conversations influence drivers to make better decisions behind the wheel so driving is safer for everyone." In line with that goal, anyone looking to bone up on how to avoid becoming a statistic can find safe driving tips at azdot.gov/NoAccidents.
