Beginning April 9 through April 17, Illinois motorists are invited to go online and vote for the roadway safety messages they would like to see most on electronic roadway signs across the Illinois Tollway. The top 15 suggestions already submitted by Tollway drivers in the safety message contest can be viewed on the Illinois Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com.
The Illinois Tollway will display the top three messages receiving the most votes on electronic overhead message signs system-wide this year to remind drivers to avoid the most dangerous practices: impaired driving, distracted driving and not wearing seatbelts. The winning messages will be announced the week of April 20.
“We want to give our customers a say in choosing messages that will help remind each of our 1.5 million daily drivers to travel safely,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “We are pleased to have received so many great messages and are asking our customers to go online and help us make the final decision.”
More than 640 total entries were submitted by the public for the Illinois Tollway’s safety message contest between March 18 and March 27. From those entries, Illinois Tollway management and the Board of Directors selected the top 15 messages from which voters can choose.
The message that receives the most votes in each category will be displayed on 37 overhead dynamic message signs located along the 286-mile Tollway system. The winning messages will be rotated on the signs throughout 2015 to increase traffic safety by reminding customers to avoid dangerous driving practices.
While this is the first time the Tollway has asked its customers and the public to suggest safety messages, the agency has undertaken previous efforts to boost driver safety.
Last month, the Tollway designated its six oasis facilities as Safe Phone Zones as part of an effort to reduce distracted driving by encouraging drivers to pull into safe, convenient locations to use their cell phones for calling, texting and accessing mobile apps.
In addition, in February 2014, the Tollway partnered with the Illinois Secretary of State, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and AAA Chicago to launch “Drop It and Drive,” a public-awareness campaign to educate drivers about the state’s new handheld cell phone ban. To date, the Drop it and Drive Web page www.dropitanddriveillinois.com has received about 66,000 hits.
