 Maine Department of Transportation | BDN Maine Department of Transportation | BDN 
 
 Maine Department of Transportation | BDN Maine Department of Transportation | BDN 
 
 By Callie Ferguson , BDN Staff • March 23, 2018 9:55 am 
 
 Updated: March 23, 2018 12:59 pm 
 
 State officials are combing through 2,000 contest entries vying to be the next cautionary pun to blink across the humorous highway safety signs that line the Maine interstate. Since the winter of 2016, the signs have entertained drivers with clever warnings and safety humor. They’ve always been written by DOT officials, who change them every two weeks or so, often with a nod to the nearest holiday (“Santa sees you when you’re speeding”) or major drinking event, like the Superbowl (“87 is Gronk’s number — not the speed limit”). The six winners — which reflect a combination of cleverness and classic Maine wit – beat out more than 2,000 other entries submitted before the contest period closed in mid-March. To enter, contest hopefuls had to squeeze their funny messages into a few, short sentences that discouraged unsafe behavior, such as distracted or impaired driving, speeding or texting behind the wheel. The winner not only gets his or her suggestion in neon lights but also a custom street sign from the state’s sign shop. All finalists will receive their choice of one of the following prizes: A Ride to the top of Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory Tickets from the Maine State Ferry Service A vehicle pass to one of the Maine State Parks 
 
 
 
 Grand Prize 
 
 The finalists will then be put out to a public vote, with one grand prize winner from each group (small signs & large signs). Follow the Bangor Daily News on Facebook for the latest Maine news.
– It's springtime in Vacationland, and Mainers are celebrating the return of sunshine with a dose of their acerbic wit. As the Bangor Daily News reports, MaineDOT is rolling out a new round of highway signs promoting safety—and they are the work of the people of Maine who entered a contest. While MaineDOT noted in the contest page that while, "(Hey – we’re state government, we don’t have a lot of prize money hanging around," winners "will have the GLORY of having your words in neon lights (Well...LED lights actually)!" Without ado, the winners, picked from some 2,000 entries: Put Down UR Cell—Or You May End Up In One, by Katie Landry Spend Money On Lobstahs—Not Speeding Tickets, by Dan Zarin Little Known Fact—Snow Is Really Slippery, by Tim Fahey A Cold Suppah Is Bettah Thana Hot Ticket, by Craig Carver Be Protected—Not Projected—Buckle Up, by Laura Giuliano Keep In Mind—Moose Eyes Don’t Shine, by Terry White MaineDOT has been playing with funny road signs since winter 2016, notes the Daily News, with officials writing their own seasonally appropriate puns. Past examples include, "Santa sees you when you’re speeding" and Super Bowl-themed "87 is Gronk’s number—not the speed limit."