Poor Mayor of Oaklawn, Illinois, Dave Heilmann. Back in September 2007, Oaklawn created a memorable and quirky public service stop sign campaign, adding comical slogans the likes of “…and smell the roses,” and “means that you aren’t moving” to the bottom of STOP signs. The City of Oaklawn created the unique signage to in an effort to increase jaded motorists’ attention and inspire them to pause, if for nothing else, to read the phrases. The signs were the idea of the City President, and local residents were encouraged to submit their own ideas. Found throughout the city, the signs garnished attention with the press.

This week, dry personality and humor intolerant IDOT (the Illinois Department of Transporation) squelched the creative slogan stop signs. IDOT suggested the signs violated the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (the instructional bible for all things transportation safety-related).

Kudos to Mayor Heilmann for attempting to come up with a unique and eye-catching way of slowing speeders. It’s too bad that Oak Lawn has yet to publish statistics on whether the signs reduced accidents or stop sign running. We can’t wait to see these numbers.

In the meantime, we are awarding IDOT (the Illinois Department of Transportation) with Everything Attitude’s Worst Attitude of the Week Award. Life is short, so lighten up, IDOT. Humor creates positive human connection and saves us all from terminal professionalism. Ahh the price of uniformity!

When federal or local government regulations supress creativity, they decrease public awareness, empathy, responsiveness, and potential accountability. We need to fight censors and the mechanization of culture that surpressses creativity. Hang in there, Mayor Heilmann. Find the opportunities in your adversities. And find comfort in your biggest fans (those who are supporting you and Oaklawn’s ingenuity):

- John Howell and Cisco Cotto
- My Crazy Hobby Blog
- Illinois Reason Blog
- My Hero of the Day
- Southtown Star