ADOT Launches Safety Message Contest Encouraging Drivers to Share Creative Road Safety Slogans
On Sept. 16, 2025, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) announced a statewide contest that invites members of the public to submit catchy traffic-safety messages for use on the department’s dynamic freeway message boards. These electronic displays, which hang over busy highways, typically remind drivers about seat-belt use, staying sober behind the wheel and slowing down. ADOT has run similar contests in previous years and found that the homegrown slogans resonate with drivers because they are written in a voice that feels familiar and local. By making the public part of the process, the agency hopes to spark conversations about safe driving and reduce the number of crashes on Arizona roads.
Contest rules emphasize brevity and creativity. According to ADOT’s guidelines, each submission must fit within three lines with a maximum of 18 characters per line【501499001992332†L49-L91】. Participants can’t use the names of businesses, include phone numbers, websites or hashtags and should avoid any copyrighted phrases. The messages need to encourage safe behaviors such as buckling up, obeying speed limits, designating sober drivers or staying off mobile devices while driving. Entries that focus on holiday travel will get special consideration because the winning messages will appear on freeway message boards during the busy end-of-year travel season. Submissions opened on Sept. 16 and will be accepted through Sept. 22, giving participants nearly a week to brainstorm creative slogans.
ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said the annual contest has become a favorite tradition for road-safety advocates. “We know that Arizonans enjoy this contest and love having their creative messages displayed across the state,” Toth said, noting that the contest encourages the public to engage with a serious topic in a fun way【501499001992332†L49-L91】. By crowdsourcing the message, the agency hopes to remind drivers that simple actions like buckling up or slowing down can save lives. Toth noted that the guidelines ensure the messages are easy to read at highway speeds and free of distractions, helping ensure their effectiveness. Winners not only get bragging rights but also the satisfaction of knowing that their words may influence thousands of drivers during the holiday travel season.
For drivers who use DMVAppointments.org, this contest is both an opportunity and a reminder. Taking a few minutes to submit a creative safety message is a way to contribute to safer roads without leaving home. Even if you don’t enter, the contest highlights the importance of safe driving habits such as wearing seat belts, adhering to speed limits and staying off your phone. With nearly half of all traffic deaths in Arizona linked to impaired or distracted driving, small reminders can make a big difference. Submissions close Sept. 22, so interested participants should visit the ADOT website to read the full rules and send in their ideas【501499001992332†L49-L91】. The winning messages will be displayed later this fall, encouraging motorists throughout Arizona to drive responsibly during the holiday travel rush.