“Don’t Be a Grinch!”: NJ’s Viral Holiday Highway Signs Return for 2025

If you’re driving through the Garden State this December, the highway signs might make you chuckle—and then check your speedometer

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has officially brought back its famous holiday-themed safety messages. From the NJ Turnpike to I-295, overhead digital boards are lighting up with puns, rhymes, and pop-culture references designed to keep drivers focused during the busiest travel season of the year.

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The 2025 Nice List: This Year’s Best Holiday Road Signs

NJDOT is rotating nine distinct messages through January 5. These signs are designed to tackle the “Big Three” of road danger: speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence.

Here is what you’ll see on the roads this month:

• HO HO HO, PLEASE, DRIVE SLOW

• THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL BUT SAFE DRIVING IS SO DELIGHTFUL

• THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. MAKE IT THERE SAFELY!

• DON’T BE A GRINCH! LET THEM MERGE

• YOU’LL HAVE A BLUE CHRISTMAS IF YOU DRIVE DRUNK

• LEAD FOOT?? COAL IN YOUR STOCKING

• HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE COMMUTE. DRIVE SAFELY

• DRUNK DRIVERS GET HANDCUFFS FOR CHRISTMAS

• SANTA SEES YOU WHEN YOU’RE TEXTING… PUT DOWN THE PHONE!

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Why the Humor? The Science of “Sticky” Messaging

NJDOT began this creative campaign three years ago with a specific goal: combatting “sign blindness.” When drivers see the same dry safety warnings every day, they tend to tune them out. By using humor and holiday nostalgia, the state hopes the messages become “sticky”—meaning they stay in a driver’s mind long after they’ve passed the sign.

“It’s a good reminder for people,” said Hasin Patel, a commuter from Edison. “If it makes them laugh, it’s easy to remember to drive safe.”

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The Controversy: Safety vs. Distraction

Not everyone is a fan of the festive wordplay. In 2022, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) actually ordered New Jersey to stop using the funny signs, citing concerns that they could be too distracting or difficult for non-native English speakers to understand quickly.

However, the ban was short-lived. NJDOT worked with federal officials to ensure the 2025 rotation remains “strictly about safety” while maintaining the wit that Jersey drivers have come to expect.

Safety Warning: NJDOT reminds all drivers not to take photos of the signs while driving. If you want to share a laugh on social media, wait until you are safely parked or have a passenger snap the picture!

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Partnering for Security

Beyond the puns, the NJDOT is collaborating with the New Jersey State Police and the Office of Homeland Security. Interspersed with the holiday cheer are serious reminders to “Report Suspicious Activity.” It’s a dual-pronged approach: keep the vibes light, but keep the security tight.

NJ Holiday Driving Fast Facts

Metric	Details
Campaign Duration	Now through January 5, 2025
Number of Messages	9 Holiday-themed rotations
Key Focus Areas	Speeding, Texting, DUI, and Merging Etiquette
Coverage	Major NJ Highways (I-295, I-80, GSP, NJ Turnpike)

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