TRENTON, NJ – The once humorous New Jersey road signs are now causing panic among residents in the Garden State.
The lighthearted public service messages on New Jersey’s digital highway signs have been replaced with warnings about potential terrorist acts, following directives from the federal government.
The shift comes after federal authorities instructed Governor Phil Murphy and his administration to discontinue using humorous messages on signs funded by the federal government. The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP), in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), has launched a public safety campaign aimed at alerting motorists to report suspicious activities.
The campaign will run from September to mid-February and display messages on nearly 200 Variable Message Signs across key state highways including the New Jersey Turnpike, I-78, I-195, I-280, and Route 440. The signs will show the NJOHSP’s reporting number for suspicious activities, predominantly during morning and afternoon rush hours seven days a week until February 17, 2024.
NJOHSP Director Laurie Doran stressed the importance of public participation. “The goal of the campaign is to remind residents and visitors to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity. The public is one of our first and best lines of defense against terrorism,” said Doran.
NJDOT Commissioner and NJ Turnpike Authority Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti noted that the messages will be visible to millions of drivers across the state. The launch date coincides with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s national “If You See Something, Say Something” Awareness Day, scheduled for September 25.
NJTA Executive Director James Carone emphasized the role of daily commuters in enhancing public safety, stating that nearly 700,000 average daily drivers on the New Jersey Turnpike are critical in maintaining public safety.
The campaign will also disseminate alerts on the 511nj.org website, in both the “Severity Alert” and “Safety Message” sections. The change marks a departure from previous light-hearted messages but underscores the importance of public vigilance in times of elevated risk.