The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has launched a contest aimed at creating engaging holiday travel safety messages for the Dynamic Message Signs on interstates. This initiative encourages Tennessee motorists to contribute ideas that can help raise awareness about safety issues and potentially save lives.
The contest begins immediately and participants can submit entries in five specific highway safety categories: seatbelt usage, impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, and aggressive driving. Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley expressed that the contest is a fun way to engage the community and support TDOT’s mission of promoting safe driving practices. Eley urged motorists to regularly check message boards for critical travel updates and emphasized the importance of reaching holiday destinations safely.
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To participate, entrants can visit the contest page on TDOT’s website via this link. The webpage provides details on the categories and allows users to submit their messages. The contest closes on December 11th, after which the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite messages on the @myTDOT Facebook page starting December 16th. Winning messages will be featured on overhead Dynamic Message Signs across the state. Messages must be appropriate, with no profanity or lewd content, and must not include any advertisements or references to sports teams or celebrities.
There are 217 Dynamic Message Signs located in Tennessee’s urban areas (Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville) and some rural regions. These signs primarily inform motorists about incidents, lane blockages, hazardous road conditions, or Amber Alerts. Since 2012, TDOT has also displayed roadway fatality statistics and safety messages during off-peak travel times on these signs.
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