Humorless highways: Minnesota senator targets snarky roadside PSAs

Translation: No more "Duck, Duck, Buckle Up" or "Let's go Barbie / Buckle up / yes you, Ken!

What they're saying: Drazkowski argued MnDOT should stick to real road hazards and traffic alerts.

• "Let's focus on what it's intended for, not big brother-type messages that climb out onto these digital billboards and pull your attention as a driver from the roadway," he said.

The other side: "Come on, they're fun," said Transportation Committee Vice Chair Ann Johnson Stewart (DFL-Wayzata), arguing that research shows the snarky signs don't lead to an increase in accidents.

• "Fun kills at 65 mph," Drazkowski deadpanned in response.

What happened: The amendment failed the DFL-controlled Senate on a party line vote, though Senate Transportation Chair Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) said he's open to exploring the idea next year.

Go Deeper: Minnesota's funny roadside PSAs can stay despite new federal rules