Route 37 Signs Deliver Safety Message With Humor In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ? Drivers on Route 37 on Tuesday were greeted with a safety message delivered with a bit of humor.

The message sign, which often carries warnings about traffic tie-ups or construction from the state Department of Transportation, was instead carrying a humorous message about turn signals.

"NICE CAR," the message read, followed moments later by "DID IT COME WITH A TURN SIGNAL?"

The sign in Toms River is not the only one delivering a humorous message about safe driving. On Route 34 there is a digital sign with the warning, "GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR APPS", according to 94.3 The Point, a reference to people using their smartphones while driving.

The sign on Route 37 at Route 166 says, "HOCUS POCUS DRIVE WITH FOCUS," according to a Toms River driver who has seen it.

Those same messages have been popping up elsewhere in the state, including on Route 206 and Interstate 195.

"NJDOT wanted to be more creative in how we present our safety messages," said Stephen Schapiro, an NJDOT spokesman. "We are trying a few new messages that are both fun and catchy in hopes that people will remember the message and drive safely."

"NJDOT reminds drivers not to take photos or videos while behind the wheel," Schapiro added.

There are roughly a half-dozen messages now, and it's likely the NJDOT will continue with creative signs in the future, he said.

New Jersey has been grappling with a sharp rise in traffic crashes and fatalities in the last two years. Through Oct. 11, there have been 508 fatal crashes with 544 deaths in 2022; in 2020, through Oct. 11, 2020, there were 412 fatal crashes with 440 people killed, according to New Jersey State Police data.

Note: This has been updated with comment from the state Department of Transportation.