"Don't Mess with Texas" Web Site Now Speaks Two Languages
- 05.22.03
(AUSTIN)—The Texas Department of Transportation's popular Don't Mess with Texas Web site, www.dontmesswithtexas.org, is expanding to make campaign materials more accessible to the state?s growing Spanish-speaking population.
While the litter prevention campaign has produced nearly 20 Spanish-language ads since it began in 1986, a survey of Hispanic Texans conducted last fall showed fewer Spanish-dominant Texans recall litter prevention advertising than do English-dominant or bilingual Hispanics.
"Just like with Texans in general, there is a high awareness level of the Don't Mess with Texas slogan among all Hispanics," said Texas Department of Transportation Travel Division Director Doris Howdeshell. "However, fewer Spanish-dominant Texans can cite the correct meaning of the slogan."
Visitors to "Don't Mess with Texas en en español " will see the Spanish tagline, "En Tejas, no se tira basura." They will also find an overview of Don't Mess with Texas campaign history and facts about littering. The site features a link to an archive of the campaign's advertisements. The most recent Spanish television spot features a young, carefree male throwing trash out of his shiny red convertible only to learn the lesson, "No hagas lo que no te gusta que te hagan" ("Don't do what you don't want done to you").
Another important section feature is an explanation of the Adopt-a-Highway program. The Texas Department of Transportation's fall study also showed Spanish-dominant Hispanics have much lower awareness of the Adopt-a-Highway program than those who are bilingual or English-dominant. Overall, Hispanics are less likely to know about Adopt-a-Highway than the state's general population.
"The number of Adopt-a-Highways groups is declining in Texas, so we are especially interested in educating the state?s Hispanic population about this volunteer opportunity," said Howdeshell.
If visitors need Spanish-language information about Don't Mess with Texas beyond that featured on the site, the section offers a contact form that will be forwarded to a Texas Department of Transportation representative who can answer any additional questions.
###
The Texas Department of Transportation's Don't Mess with Texas litter prevention campaign has been educating Texans about litter prevention since 1986.
For more information, visit www.dontmesswithtexas.org.
