New Jersey Unveils Humorous Digital Highway Signs to Promote Safe Driving

Strategic Insights -

New Jersey has introduced a series of digital highway signs, featuring memorable and humorous messages, as part of its strategy to promote safe driving habits among its residents. The 11 new messages, launched across 224 state and interstate highway signs, draw on pop culture references, including songs by Jon Bon Jovi, to grab the public's attention. The initiative aims to reduce crashes and promote safer driving behavior by bringing attention to safety and making sure people read and remember these messages. The signs will be updated regularly and will run in rotation, except during incidents, construction, special events, or weather activity.

Key Takeaways:

  • The New Jersey Department of Transportation has introduced 11 new digital highway signs featuring humorous and pop culture-referenced messages to promote safe driving habits.
  • The signs, launched in late May, are part of the agency's strategy to reduce crashes and promote safer driving behavior.
  • Two of the new messages allude to songs by New Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi, including "Who says you can't go home? The police if you drive drunk!" and "Don't let your speed be to blame / Don't give our roads a bad name."
  • Other signs contain music references across multiple genres and decades, such as "Turn down for what? The speed limit" and "Summer lovin', having a blast / Get pulled over if you're driving too fast."
  • The Transportation Department has partnered with the HERO Campaign, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing drunk driving deaths, to dedicate a newly built interchange in memory of Ensign John R. Elliott.
  • The digital sign messages are developed by staff members at the department and the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety and are updated regularly.

Statistics:

  • 224 digital highway signs across state and interstate highways are displaying the new messages.
  • The initiative is part of the Department of Transportation's strategy to reduce crashes and promote safer driving behavior.
  • 6 signs contain music references, while 5 signs contain more straightforward pleas for proper roadway etiquette.
  • The Transportation Department has partnered with the HERO Campaign, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing drunk driving deaths, in 2022.

Sources:

  • [NorthJersey.com, May 25, 2023]
  • [New Jersey Department of Transportation, Public Information Officer Lizzy Galamba]
  • [HERO Campaign, November 2022]
  • [New Jersey Department of Transportation's website, no date]