'Keep Calm And Drive On' Among MassDOT Highway Saftey Sign Contest Winners
BOSTON (CBS/AP) – "Keep Calm and Drive On."
That phrase to curb road rage was one of the winners announced by The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Thursday in a contest to come up with funny safety messages for electronic highway message boards across the state.
The other winners were "Make yah Ma proud, wear yah seatbelt," to encourage belt use and "Put down the phone! Your LOLs and OMGs can wait," to fight distracted driving.
The "Keep Calm" signs will start appearing this weekend.
"Put down the phone!" will be seen Labor Day weekend and "Make yah Ma proud" will be displayed on Columbus Day weekend.
All three weekends are considered some of the busiest travel weekends of the year, according to MassDOT.
The contest was inspired by a message posted on highways in May that encouraged drivers to "Use Yah Blinkah" when changing lanes.
The three winners will each receive gift cards from Burger King, Gulf, Exxon Mobil, McDonald's and Dunkin Donuts.
Patrick Casey of Allston submitted the "Keep Calm" message.
Justin Lovell of Whitman came up with "Put down the phone" and The Parent's Supervised Driving Program team of Safe Roads Alliance created the seat belt message.
MassDOT launched the contest in June and received more than 500 entries through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and email.
"With the 'Use Yah Blinkah' sign, we got people's attention," MassDOT Highway Administrator DePaola said in a statement.
"By changing the routine messages, we hope to bring a new light to important public safety messages that sometimes may be overlooked."
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