Once a source of bad puns, nj road signs switch to terrorism reminders

Once a Source of Bad Puns, NJ Road Signs Switch to Terrorism Reminders

by
September 6, 2023
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TRENTON, NJ – Digital highway signs across New Jersey once pushed humorous public service messages like “We’ll be blunt, don’t drive high”, “Nice car, did it come with a turn signal”, and “Get your head out of your apps”.

That was until the federal government that paid for those life-saving highway signs told Phil Murphy and his administration to knock it off.

Now, that the joke’s over, they’re warning New Jerseyans about possible terrorist acts in the days ahead of the 22nd anniversary of 9/11.

Is there something we’re not being told?

The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) has partnered with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) to launch a public safety campaign aimed at encouraging motorists to report suspicious activities.

The campaign, which runs from September through mid-February, will feature almost 200 Variable Message Signs across major highways including the New Jersey Turnpike, I-78, I-195, and I-280, as well as Route 440. These signs will display the NJOHSP’s suspicious activity reporting number, mainly during morning and afternoon rush hours seven days a week until February 17, 2024.

NJOHSP Director Laurie Doran emphasized the public’s role in this initiative, stating, “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.”

NJDOT Commissioner and NJ Turnpike Authority Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti added that millions of motorists will see these important reminders as they drive through the state.

The timing of this campaign aligns with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s national “If You See Something, Say Something” Awareness Day on September 25.

NJTA Executive Director James Carone remarked that the nearly 700,000 average daily drivers on the New Jersey Turnpike have an important role in maintaining public safety.

The campaign will also feature alerts on the 511nj.org website, both in the “Severity Alert” and “Safety Message” sections.

It’s a far cry from “Slow down. This ain’t Thunder Road”.

Hopefully, the next messages won’t be, “Don’t let your life tick away, it’s a bomb” or “That package is bomb-astic”.

Phil Stilton
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Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

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