IDOT Failed to See the Humor in Stop (in the Name of Love) Signs



Last year, Mayor Dave Heilmann of Oak Lawn, Illinois, added humorous signs to the city’s stop signs in attempt to get drivers to obey.

The Illinois Department of Transportation, however, wasn’t amused: they ordered the mayor to take the signs down:

"I thought that was a very harsh response to an effort to promote safety," Heilmann said. "I truly believe the signs were making an impact. They were around schools and heavily trafficked areas. The community loved them, and we heard from all over the country about how thinking outside the box was a good way to reinforce the message that people need to stop."

Heilmann launched his public safety campaign to cut down on speeding through stop signs in September. He added slogans such as "and smell the roses" and "means that you aren’t moving" to 50 stop signs.

Link - via Fogonazos, thanks aberron!


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Posted on May 2, 2008 at 4:31 pm by Alex
Category: Car & Vehicle



15 Comments to "IDOT Failed to See the Humor in Stop (in the Name of Love) Signs"

  • Duncan
    May 2nd, 2008 at 4:47 pm

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/afroswede/22237769

  • The Slapster
    May 2nd, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    Typical, government bureaucracy getting in the way of a successful attempt to improve citizen’s lives. So what if it’s a little unusual, and (deity forbid!) makes people smile?

  • CheeseDuck
    May 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 pm

    Finally a politician with a sense of humor.

  • Justin
    May 2nd, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    But he’s the governor! how can a state government agency tell him what to do?! Thats like the Secretary of Transportation ordering the president around!

    Or is IDOT Federal?

  • B
    May 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    he’s the Mayor… which amounts to just a few beans short of a hill.

  • Leah
    May 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 pm

    Boo- hiss. This campaign was working, and those fuddy-duddies at IDOT need to get a life.

  • Alannah
    May 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 pm

    Wow. They’d rather stick to the manual than keep going with a campaign that was proven to work, thus saving lives. I wonder if they keep the manual in a shrine, and worship it. I wonder if traffic fatalities are ‘offerings’ to the book.

  • bean
    May 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 pm

    Alright, I might as well play the devil’s advocate here if no one else will.

    IDOT probably had no choice but to do this, because by posting nearly identical signs right under the legal stops signs, the mayor created a legal loophole for stop-sign runners. They could claim they ran the sign because they were distracted by the text on the parody sign, or because they thought because of the combined message that the real sign was just a prank, and not a legal directive.

    (and what the hell is wrong with the comment software? half the time my posts don’t show up, and the rest of the time I get a message telling me I’m posting too quickly)

  • Becky
    May 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 pm

    My favorite sign is the “deer crossing” signs with the big red circle stickers for noses . . .

  • Divine
    May 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 am

    I do STOP. But I like the signs. A less boring morning drive to work.

  • kasia
    May 3rd, 2008 at 11:32 am

    Man, $1700 in signs had to be junked. I think they should throw them up on ebay for charity for the town. I know a few sign enthusiasts that would probably find these signs fun to have…particularly “in the name of love.”

  • Acris
    May 3rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm

    Aw. I live near Oak Park and I loved seeing those :(

  • Thomas
    May 3rd, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    Shenanigans.

  • ted
    May 3rd, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    What a stupid concept.

    Stop in the name of 4-way love? They were probably attracting too many swingers to the town.

  • jdl powl
    May 3rd, 2008 at 6:14 pm

    IDOT or IDiOT?

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