ODOT Partners with high schools to improve work zone safety
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, December 6th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
OREGON – In an effort to reduce the risk of roadside work zone accidents and to educate youth on the importance of work zone safety, the Oregon Department of Transportation is partnering with high schools across the state to help design new work zone safety billboards. Specifically, ODOT is hosting a contest to give high school students the opportunity to design roadside safety billboards. The goal of the contest is simple: educate drivers on the importance of work zone safety and encourage them to pay attention and drive safely when approaching or passing through one. As written by ODOT on the official contest information page:
“We want drivers to slow down, drive sober and pay attention when approaching a work zone because lives depend on it. Safety is our number one priority! We want to harness your creativity and intellect to encourage drivers to be safe when approaching and driving through work zones. We want everyone to make it home safe.”
Students can work alone or in teams to design their billboard and are given creative freedom over specifics. Elements such as messaging, language, and imagery are left to the discretion of student designers, though with some stipulations. For example, the final design must incorporate the ODOT logo in some capacity. Any used images must be either from ODOT’s own catalog or provided directly by students, with stock images or other commercial imagery being prohibited. Use of data and statistics are, likewise, encouraged, though must have proper citations when submitting a design. Billboard submissions are assumed to fit the standard billboard dimensions of 14 feet by 48 feet. The overall goal of any billboard submission is, of course, to educate drivers on the dangers of roadside work zones and to encourage them to be safe.
Submissions for the contest are split regionally between fall and spring. Students from Union, Baker, Wallowa, Malheur, Umatilla, Grant, and Harney Counties must submit their entries by 5 p.m., March 15, 2024. Submissions should be in the .EPS, .AI or Vector file types and be no more than 50 MB.
For all additional information and to submit a billboard, visit https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Get-Involved/Pages/BillboardContest.aspx
