Illinois residents have the chance to make their voices heard in yet another place: state tollways signs.
This year it’s up to the public to decide what safety messages will go on the electronic signs along the 286-mile Illinois Tollway system.
“We wanted to get the public as involved in this process as we could, to make them think a bit more about safety and also get their ideas,” Illinois Tollway spokesman Dan Rozek said. “They submitted some really good ones, which we’re thrilled for.”
The online vote via the Illinois Tollway’s website is the first time the agency has asked the public for roadway safety inspiration.
More than 640 entries were submitted in March to the Illinois Tollway’s safety message contest. Officials picked five messages for each of the three categories: impaired driving, distracted driving and not wearing seatbelts.
Contenders include “Avoid the slammer, don’t get hammered,” “Leave the Tweets for the passenger seats” and “Buckle up, it’s like a safety hug.”
Voting closes April 17 and only the winner from each category will make it to the signs, where they’ll rotate throughout the year to call out unsafe driving practices.
The public is asked to vote on slogans to be used on tollway signs. | Illinois Tollway illustration
