Billy Bollard and the Pithy Phrase

[TheOneKEA]

As long as I can remember, the state of MD has always included a memorable, pithy phrase on the signage advertising a road construction project. The phrase is always accompanied by an anthropomorphized bollard with a hard hat perched on its head. I've never seen this type of advertising anywhere else, so I'm curious to know if this is unique to MD.

[Mr_Northside]

You mean like "Taking a stride to better your ride!"?

[1995hoo]

"We're improving to keep you moving" is another.

The signs for the Maryland House used to include the phrase "Stay Awake, Take a Break." I don't know whether that's still there with the reconstruction since I haven't been that way in a few years.

[briantroutman]

I don't know of any other cartoon mascots for state DOTs construction projects, but other states do use a rhyming mnemonic or some other cutesy approach to attract attention to the issue of construction zone safety.

As far back as I can remember, PennDOT was using "Give "˜Em a Brake" , although I've seen other states use that phrase too–does anyone know where it originated? I could have sworn I saw signs where the word "brake"  had been replaced with a double-width brake pedal like you might see in an old Chevy Caprice.

I believe PennDOT was responsible for that god-awful "Slow down my daddy works here"  business.

California uses "Slow for the Cone Zone" , and I recall seeing "Orange Cones–No Phones"  in Virginia.

[SteveG1988]

Billy Bollard and the Bollocks

[ixnay]

Mr. Bollard's message as you enter the stretch of improvement projects on U.S. 301 in Queen Anne's Co. is "Delay today for a safer tomorrow".

Those projects are:  J-turn construction at 301 and MD 305 *and* interchange construction to replace the J-turn at 301 and MD 304.  I imagine improvements at the Maryland & Delaware RR grade crossing near Tidewater Direct (between 304 and 305) will be done as part of this eventually.

ixnay