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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 05, 2026 |
The Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA) is expanding its commitment to work zone safety nationwide by making its new high‑visibility safety shirt design available for use by Departments of Transportation across the country. The decision follows a wave of positive feedback on the campaign, including inquiries from other DOTs interested in adapting the creative art and messaging for their own safety campaigns.
Designed for Go Orange Day during 2026 National Work Zone Awareness Week, the shirt represents a collaboration between the Maine Turnpike Authority and artist Tim Ferguson Sauder. Its central message, “WHOA, Take it Slow,” has resonated strongly road crew workers in the industry and the public, prompting requests from transportation agencies hoping to incorporate the artwork into their own safety initiatives.
The MTA’s decision to share its artwork openly signals a shift toward a more collaborative creative culture within the transportation sector—one where design is offered freely to strengthen safety communication nationwide. It also underscores a broader truth about graphic design itself: when it’s built with clarity and intention, it often becomes a natural template that other agencies can adapt to deliver high‑impact messages.
Long before the shirts hit print, the team behind them was focused on something much larger than designing another safety shirt. For the MTA, the work was always about impact—about what thoughtful design can actually do in the real world. With motor vehicle crashes standing as the leading cause of work‑related deaths in the U.S., and millions of workers relying on roadways as part of their daily jobs, the need for attention‑grabbing safety communication is urgent. Cyndi Farrell, Manager of Public Relations at the Maine Turnpike Authority, emphasized that the purpose behind the project goes far beyond branding.
“Other DOTs have recently reached out asking if they can use it too, which shows just how powerful thoughtful design can be,” Farrell said. “If a visual or slogan can spark curiosity, start a conversation about the dangers of speeding, and ultimately change driver behavior in a work zone, that matters far more than who created it. The goal is to save lives, and good design can open the door to that impact.”
To produce the shirts, MTA partnered with Hummel, selecting the company’s reflective Core XK Orange Tiger poly tee featuring its signature chevron pattern on the shoulders. The Hummel brand name—meaning “bumble bee” in German—is reflected in their bee logo and chevron striping inspired by a bee’s body. The visual connection between Hummel’s design and the campaign message helped bring the project “full circle” for the creative team.
“Hummel’s chevron design brought a real sense of motion and movement, and for a transportation‑focused campaign, it drew us in immediately,” Farrell said. “We knew it would align perfectly with our initiative. That connection between their design language and our important safety message just clicked.”
By releasing the artwork for nationwide use, the MTA hopes to support other transportation agencies in their efforts to protect workers, encourage public awareness, and reduce injuries in high‑risk work zones. “If design can inspire people to think twice in a work zone, that’s the win."
For additional information or coordination, agencies are encouraged to contact the MTA Communications staff at their Portland, ME, headquarters. To sign the MTA safe driving pledge, visit www.maineturnpike.com/safedriving
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