You know those variable message boards above the freeways over the freeways in Utah?
The ones that show you travel times, or give you a heads up about a crash?
The Utah Department of Transportation is hoping those road signs will create a conversation with Utah drivers, in an effort to encourage them to drive more safely.
This summer, UDOT and Zero Fatalities launched a campaign to reduce the number of traffic fatalities, and are using the message boards to convey safety messages each week.
UDOT
According to UDOT, Monday messages will be displayed to increase safety awareness, and the signs each Friday will indicate the number of days during the past week there were no fatalities on Utah’s roads.
256 people lost their lives on Utah roads in 2014, and human error is the critical reason for 93% of crashes according to Zero Fatalities. UDOT officials are hoping the message boards spark some dialogue among drivers, and encourage them to drive carefully.
Here are some of the signs from UDOT’s #MessageMonday campaign:
1. “Not buckled? What’s holding you back?”
If you're not buckled and experience a glitch, how are you going to keep out of a ditch? #ZeroFatalities pic.twitter.com/pbYzY62zBu
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) July 13, 2015
If you're not buckled and experience a glitch, how are you going to keep out of a ditch? #ZeroFatalities pic.twitter.com/pbYzY62zBu
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) July 13, 2015
2. “Pass on left. Drive on right.”
Sometimes, it’s good to review the fundamentals of safe driving. #MessageMonday #ZeroFatalities pic.twitter.com/MZrKmZQ1eF
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) July 20, 2015
3. “Cross the plains safely. Buckle up.”
ICYMI: happy #PioneerDay, #Utah! This IS the right place… To buckle up and not text. #ZeroFatalities pic.twitter.com/6O2SJGXfTs
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) July 24, 2015
4. “Keep calm and drive on.”
Happy #MessageMonday! We want to share the best way to prevent aggressive driving in #Utah: #keepcalm #ZeroFatalities pic.twitter.com/jrm82Qlt60
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) July 27, 2015
5. “Snooze you lose. Don’t drive drowsy.”
Did you see #messagemonday? What did you think? Please get rest before you drive, know when to stop when drowsy. pic.twitter.com/milozfVjA2
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) August 18, 2015
6. Drive + Texting = Illegal use of hands.”
Whether you bleed red or some shade of blue, we can all agree: #StopTheTexts. #zerofatalities #BYU #utes #USUAggies pic.twitter.com/a5iatiHJE2
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) September 11, 2015
7. “Hug your kids at home. Buckle them in the car.”
Our kids are our main focus. When driving, hug & buckle ‘em, then focus! https://t.co/qLqfdW7gJs #MessageMonday pic.twitter.com/yR9Fg3LWrT
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) September 14, 2015
8. “You are loved. Buckle up.”
Remember to #buckleupUT, if not for yourself, for the ones you love. http://t.co/lkO1x3f9hY #messagemonday pic.twitter.com/sq6ytBKDjm
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) September 21, 2015
9. “It’s Columbus Day. Discover your turn signal.”
@kslmrichards yep, we had fun with this one. Had been a most requested topic by the public lately #messagemonday pic.twitter.com/WcCzE7t5BK
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) October 12, 2015
10. “Texting + Driving is clever. Said no one ever.”
Happy #messagemonday! Think texting and driving is ok? Think again. #zerofatalities #stopthetexts pic.twitter.com/KsTKvGTewj
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) October 19, 2015
11. “Get your head out of your apps.”
There's a time & place for using your phone. In car while driving is not one of them #MessageMonday #ZeroFatalities pic.twitter.com/ls32R9FHmV
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) November 9, 2015
