Slogans — short, quippy comments associated with a product or campaign — can root themselves in our minds, maybe for the rest of our lives. Once you’ve heard “Give a hoot, don’t pollute” it’s hard to get rid of it.

And almost any schoolchild can tell you who said, “Only you can prevent forest fires.”

The Georgia Department of Transportation recently announced winners of a slogan contest for highway safety. Maybe one of these will get stuck in your head too.

The DOT operates electronic billboards on Georgia’s interstates that warn drivers of hazards ahead — smoke across the road, ongoing construction or a wreck that’s slowing traffic. But what message should they put there when there isn’t an immediate hazard?

Several people offered some suggestions. Winning entries could start appearing on the billboards as early as yesterday, and the DOT said it might use even non-winning entries later in the year.

Here are the winners:

General safety

• First place: If you miss your exit it’s okay, we made more up ahead.

• Second place: Better late than never.

• Third place (tie): Drive like your momma is watchin’; You are allowed to use turn signals, we checked; and Drive safely or we call your mother.

Distracted Driving

• First place (tie): You look great but the selfie can wait and Looking at the road is a great way to stay on it.

• Second place: No one wants to see traffic on Snapchat, Brenda.

• Third place: Pop quiz, what is the speed limit on this road?

Impaired Driving 

(Many of the messages submitted were seasonal and can be used during the holidays)

• First place: Driving half lit is not very bright.

• Second place: Don’t spend the New Year in jail, party responsibly.

• Third place (tie): Don’t be a turkey and drive basted and The party should be lit not you, bring in the New Year safe.

Seatbelt

• First place (tie): This is a sign you should buckle up and If you don’t wear a seatbelt, please be an organ donor.

• Second place: Wearing a seatbelt makes you look thinner.

• Third place (tie): Here is the tea sis, we can see you so buckle up and Seatbelts are in, everybody is wearing them.

Work Zone Safety

• First place: Look left, look right, keep workers in sight.

• Second place: Work zone, slow down, workers have families that want them around.

• Third place (tie): Work zones matter so do the people in them and Avoid destruction mind the construction.

The DOT did not identify the submitters of the winning slogans, but we salute them, whoever they are.

We hope this bit of cleverness will encourage drivers to keep their eyes and minds on the road and make things safer for all of us.