Road sign causes controversy in Utah

A public service announcement placed on some Utah roads drew laughs, but it’s also raised some eyebrows.

 

"Get Your Head Out Of Your Apps,” the electric road signs read, as part of the Utah Department of Transportation's "Message Monday" program.

 

A poll posted on the Facebook page of local media outlet KSL-TV shows that 8 percent of responders found the sign “offensive,” and some expressed their opinion in comments.

 

"I understand the concern but did not feel this was appropriate,” one user wrote.

 

The goal of running the “punny” sign wasn’t to offend anyone, but rather to “get people’s attention,” according to Utah DOT spokesman John Gleason. In fact, the state’s DOT regularly uses humor as a way to make their signs stand out. One posted in October read, “It’s Columbus Day, discover your turn signal.”

 

Gleason noted that while this may seem like a lighthearted approach to safety, “Make no mistake, this is a very serious issue. Far too many people are dying on our roads as a result of these dangerous behaviors.”