TDOT Announces Dynamic Message Sign Contest Winners

NASHVILLE –Five winning messages have been selected from the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s recent Dynamic Message Sign Contest. Over 2,000 entries were submitted and nearly 8,000 votes were cast for the 15 finalist messages. The messages covered issues such as distracted driving, seatbelt usage, impaired driving, speeding and aggressive driving.

The top five messages in order of votes are:

Do your duty. Seatbelt your booty.
Use your blinking blinker.
Be Kind. Don't ride my behind.
In a hurry? Shoulda left early. Slow down.
We've upped our road safety, so up yours.

The #1 winning message, “Do your duty. Seatbelt your booty!”, will run on our overhead Dynamic Message Signs this week. That message, along with the other winning messages, will be placed in rotation to run on the overhead Dynamic Message Signs statewide throughout the year. Some of the entries were modified slightly to fit guidelines for the signs.

We have three honorable mentions that will also be placed in rotation:

Smashville is a rink thing, not a drink thing.
Don't let Halloween end in horror. Drive sober.
March madness. For the hardwood, not the highway.

“I want to thank everyone who submitted messages and took part in the voting process,” said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. “We received such creative messages this year. TDOT is honored to partner with the public to raise safety awareness. Even if a submission didn’t win, there’s still a chance that message may be seen periodically on our DMS boards.”

A total of 177 Dynamic Message Signs are located in the state’s four urban areas (Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville), and in some rural areas across the state. The main purpose of the signs is to alert motorists of incidents, lane blockages, hazardous road conditions, or Amber Alerts.

In 2012, TDOT became the first DOT in the nation to display roadway fatality numbers on the overhead signs. In addition to the fatality statistics, safety messages are displayed during off-peak travel times.

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