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CTMQ > Everything Else > Towers, Bridges, Forts, Tunnels, Roads, Canals, Dams, Fishways, Airports, & Ferries > E.T. Progressive Signs

E.T. Progressive Signs

by 58 Comments

Phone Home… Safely
Points throughout the state

It has been many years since I originally put this page together and I’m happy to report that it has become the go-to place on the Intertubes for those curious about these idiotic signs. I’m so proud.

The only thing that could beat that is if the media recognized this important piece of online documentation. Oh snap! The Day did just that in September 2019!

LOL

I get search engine hits on this page way more than you’d think. These signs are definitely curiousities. I’ve driven many miles around my country and I’ve never seen one of these signs anywhere else. Nor have I found a non-CT web presence of them either, so until I do, I’m stating that the E.T. The Extra Terrestrial Progressive Car Insurance Buckle Up signs are pretty much unique to Connecticut.*

*This is not true.

The funny thing is, it wasn’t supposed to be that way at all. During the Super Bowl in 1999, Progressive launched a massive marketing campaign with ET as as their spokesalien. Never mind it was about 17 years too late. They blanketed the country with flyers and educational posters and print ads – all to promote safety. And their insurance of course.

So what about the roadsigns? From the US Department of Transortation website:

Progressive provided free roadside signs to organizations that could place them in locations where they are visible to traffic. The signs were made available in a variety of formats, including the familiar diamond shaped yellow advisory signs that are used to warn of hazards ahead. The plan, to place the highly visible signs in communities around the country, is growing. Connecticut was one of the first states to receive signs, where city planners and engineers ordered nearly 4,000 of them.

The article does not mention any other states getting in on the weirdness. And I can sure as heck report that there are nowhere near 4000 of these things in Connecticut. When I started this page in 2007, I knew where two signs were. Since those two, I’ve collected several more and the comments section provides locations of several more. But not 4000.

Also, over the years I’ve received a bunch of reader submissions from other states as well. See the comments below and keep them coming!

After many years of maintaining this page, a kid reader sent me my very own to hang in my sons' playroom! Thanks kind reader!

After many years of maintaining this page, a very kind reader sent me my very own to hang in my sons’ playroom! Thanks kind reader!

You want more? Here’s more:

Woodtick Recreation Area, Nichols Road, Wolcott

Maxwell Park, Rocky Hill

Sunnycrest Park (secret entrance), Rocky Hill

Van Buren Middle School, Middletown

Bittner Park, Guilford (Thanks to reader Matt P.)

Emery Park ET, Kent

Norwich police department, stolen from The Day.

Near Martin Park, East Hartford

At Bazin N. Bruce Memorial Park in Suffield

Somewhere in N. Haven (Thanks Chris K)

At A.W. Cox School, Guilford

At A.W. Cox School, Guilford

Thimble Island Road, Branford

Thimble Island Road, Branford

At the corner of St. John’s Street and St. John’s Square (which is a road, actually off of Main) in Middletown

et_bethetbet
On the two driveways into Bethlehem’s Town Hall (Note subtle difference)

Dixwell Ave, heading south right before crazy Goffe St (etc.) intersection in New Haven

At the corner of Commerce Street and Berlin Street in Berlin

Ribs, Chicken, Gas, God and ET – in Oxford

Portland Police station

At the end of School Street in Woodbury

Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, at the intersection of Roberts Avenue and Eighth Avenue. (Courtesy of reader Matt L.)

Mills Pond Recreation Area, Canton. (Courtesy of reader Rob Y.)

Library parking lot, Seymour. (Courtesy of reader Jeffrey W.)

Lake Quonnipaug parking lot, Guilford. (Courtesy of reader Karen J.P.)

End of Old Whitfield Street at the boat launch, Guilford.

Exceedingly rare indoor ET. (From reader Michelle B, taken at her office in Avon)

Another New Haven ET on Whalley Ave at W. Park Ave.

A reader submission from Panthorn Park in Southington (Thanks, Rich!)

A reader submission from somewhere in Southington (Thanks, Dorie!)

Non-Connecticut


A reader submission from an intersection in Tavares, FL (Thanks Travis!)


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Comments

  5. There is also one near the high school in Trumbull- or at least it was there a few years ago. It does not say “Progressive” on it – Just picture of E.T. with the “Buckle Up” saying.

  6. I used to live 4 houses down from the Trumbull H.S. I’ll just have to go down & check to see if the sign is still there & then I’ll give you an update on the sign with E.T. on it.

  7. There’s a yellow-style sign (sans reference to Progressive) on the road in Panthorn Park in Southington, CT. :) We’ve often driven and walked past it thinking, “What on earth were they thinking — at why E.T.??”

    Now I know. I find it no less odd though!

  8. school street in woodbury i used to drive past it every day when i went ohome on the bus

  9. Darn, Ben. I was just there yesterday along Route 6 and noticed School St. going north and again south. I’ll be back out there though… Now let’s see if I can remember this.

    Keep the locations coming. I love it!

  10. The one in Trumbull is still there and there is at least one other in the area. The first just has “buckle up” but the second also has the “Be Progressive…” part. both are the yellow diamond type sign. I just had my nephew photograph the Trumbull one if anyone wants to see it…

  12. I just saw one of these at some corporate park behind(or near) Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, there also used to be one at Western CT Sate University, or at least when I went there it was still there.

  13. thanks everyone for posting these pictures and locations.
    if anyone happens to come across any of the “flyers and educational posters and print ads ” for this campaign could you please email. thanks!

  16. There is one of these signs (yellow diamond, ET, buckle up) here in Washington State between Marysville and the Tulalip Indian Reservation. If I ever drove by there anymore I would send you a picture.

  20. late to the party but there’s one as you’re going into the town of Stony Creek (Thimble Islands)

  21. There is one outside the former West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, WV. So this was not only a CT thing but nationwide. There are just few left in existence at this point. Metal street signs rust and are replaced all the time. This one was in pretty good shape tho, saw it on a visit to tour the prison (Charles Manson spent time here) or I would furnish a picture for you.

  25. They are not unique to Connecticut. I’ve seen some in Alabama. I know where one is near Ozark, AL. I did not know they were part of an ad campaign for Progressive Insurance. I thought the Alabama Dept. of Trans. put them up on their own, and was wondering if Speilberg knew about it.

  26. I have one in almost perfect comdition. Never been put up. It is a yellow dismond shaped one snd says Be Progressive Buckle Up and has a pic of ET under it.

  28. I have a couple white “Buckle up – by Progressive” – they are new from back in 2000. call me — nine 3 six — six six two — two 4 seven six.

  29. Where are all these sign sellers coming from? I guess there’s a market for these dumb things, but I’m certainly not in it.

  35. Here are 2 more in Guilford: 1) Town Hall parking lot, and 2) Boston Terrace (short dead end street near the Guilford Green).

  36. I have one of these white Buckle up E.T. TM Universal Studios could b for sale for right price email for details.

  37. I have a yellow diamond shaped one and a white rectangle shaped one never hung up perfect condition (will sale) text only (860) 881-42one six

  41. There’s used to be another one in Rocky Hill too – on Cobey Road when you’re ascending the hill to New Britain Ave. I have to check if it’s still there next time I visit my parents.

  42. FOR SALE
    Lg. Yellow diagonal/diamond shaped E.T (buckle up) sign for sale good shape if anyone is interested I’ll send you pictures you can make me a decent offer Thanks John

  44. Does anyone know where I could buy one of these signs? This is my favorite movie of all time. I already have a Coors Light ad with E.T. on it. I’d love to have one of these too!

  47. I found one on the border of Massachusetts and Connecticut (in CT obviously) on Loomis St. in North Granby, CT. You have to be coming from mass to see it.

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