Arizona ADOT Launches Safety Message Contest Encouraging Creative Roadway Reminders
On September 16, 2025, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) kicked off its ninth annual Safety Message Contest, an initiative that turns the overhead electronic signs drivers see on state highways into a platform for community‑written safety messages. The contest invites Arizonans to think creatively about road safety and share short reminders that encourage good driving behavior.
Residents have until September 22 to submit their ideas at ADOT’s Sign Contest website. There’s no limit on entries, so participants can send in multiple messages. After the submission window closes, ADOT will review the entries and select at least ten finalists. Those finalists will be posted for the public to vote on, and the two messages with the highest vote counts will be displayed on ADOT’s dynamic message boards across the state. The agency hopes the process will not only yield memorable slogans but also generate conversation about the everyday decisions that make roads safer.
To help entries work on the electronic signs, ADOT offers some simple guidelines. Messages must relate to traffic safety and fit on the three‑line format of the signs, with no more than eighteen characters per line. Hashtags, phone numbers, emojis and website addresses are prohibited, but ampersands (&) are permitted because they save space. ADOT emphasizes that successful messages are often witty and topical, yet still convey a clear safety reminder. “Safety is ADOT’s top priority and it’s our mission to safely connect Arizonans to where they want to go,” said ADOT Director Jennifer Toth in the announcement. She described the contest as an engaging way to help people think about safer behavior behind the wheel.
The agency’s push comes at a time when crash numbers underscore the importance of responsible driving. Statewide crash data shows that 1,228 people were killed on Arizona roads in 2024, including 347 deaths in alcohol‑related crashes and 417 fatalities where speeding was a factor. Nationally, roughly 90 percent of crashes are attributed to driver decisions such as speeding, distraction or impaired driving. By focusing public attention on safety messages, ADOT hopes to reduce those numbers and encourage drivers to slow down, stay alert and never get behind the wheel impaired.
The Safety Message Contest reflects ADOT’s broader effort to engage the public in promoting a culture of safety. Winning messages will appear on overhead signs for thousands of drivers to see, making the creators partners in highway safety. With the contest open through September 22, there is still time for Arizonans to submit their clever and impactful reminders and play a role in making Arizona’s highways safer for everyone.