The New Jersey Department of Transportation’s plan to liven up commuting with humorous road sign messages has come to an end. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has ordered the state to stop posting its creative safety messages to 215 digital warning signs located statewide.
The department began posting creative messages in October to draw drivers’ attention to various road safety measures. New Jersey DOT press manager Stephen Schapiro told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the FHWA instructed the department to stop posting creative safety messages. FHWA representatives did not explain to the publication why they were asking the state to stop; however, federal agencies said they were aware of the signs and contacted DOT.
Creative safety messages include jarring things like:
- “We’ll be blunt – don’t drive too high.”
- “Hold your ass – help prevent forest fires.”
- “Nice car – does it have turn signals?”
- “Get your mind out of your app.”
- “Focus pocus, drive with focus.”
States across the country are battling an increase in accidents, and New Jersey isn’t the only one getting creative as a way to reach drivers. Based on Philadelphia InvestigatorUtah, Delaware, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and others have all published similar creative messages to their digital alerts.
Last year, traffic fatalities rose to a 16-year high, with an estimated 42,915 people dying in motorized traffic accidents last year, a 10.5 percent increase compared to 2021. Traffic fatalities in 2022 increased slightly during the first half of the year , but the evidence shows they started declining for the first time since 2020. Vehicle fatalities in New Jersey rose by 11 to 618 compared to 2021.
In a prophetic tweet last month, the New Jersey DOT asked drivers to stop snapping at creative signs. “This is very dangerous and defeats the message we want to take home,” the agency tweeted. The post included a meme of a cat sitting on the steering wheel with a displeased expression. The meme threateningly informs drivers that old messages will return if they don’t stop. However, the federal government decided to step in.
