"Abbi" and "Bobby" are asking drivers traveling through Illinois to slow down. The Illinois Department of Transportation is counting on the children to help persuade drivers to obey speed laws in construction zones.

Signs placed throughout construction zones in neon-green children's scrawl on a black background urge drivers to slow down. "Please slow down. My daddy works here. Thanks," says a sign written by Abbi. Bobby makes a similar plea on behalf of his mother.

IDOT hopes the new concept will get drivers to realize the workers are human beings and have families that worry about them. The new public safety campaign using fictional children is an attempt to update the "Give 'em a Brake" message used in road construction zones for many years.

IDOT plans to erect Abbi and Bobby signs at all state highway work zones. A series of radio and television public service announcements featuring similar messages from children also are planned.

The state is using other tactics to get drivers to slow down in construction zones, including changeable message boards. Messages remind drivers of the construction-zone speed limit and display the number of speeding tickets issued in the zone.