CT DMV and Travelers 10th Annual Teen Safe Driving Video Contest to Promote Safety on the Road

The Department of Motor Vehicles and Travelers announced today their joint sponsorship of the 10th annual Teen Safe Driving Video contest for high school students around the state.  The theme this year is: “Teen Safe Driver: Could This Be You? Every Second Matters.” DMV and Travelers partner each year to raise awareness about safety behind the wheel with the state’s youngest and most inexperienced drivers. The goal is to create peer-to-peer education and influence about developing safe driving habits.
 
Young drivers account for a disproportionate number of motor vehicle crashes and these crashes are the leading cause of death for this age group.  The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16-to 19-year-olds than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 
A group of 18 student advisors to the Connecticut DMV helped create the theme focused on the teen driver because that single person can control the fate of himself or herself, as well as others, in the vehicle. Often their fate rests on whether they follow the rules of the road with responsible decision making, safe driving and by obeying state laws, especially those aimed at 16- and 17-year-old drivers. This year the theme requires video submissions showing positive examples of how to prevent tragedies, crashes, injuries and deaths. Studies have shown that positive influences can have the most effect on changing behavior.
 
“This year’s theme calls attention to the great responsibilities teen drivers have, the challenges they face when getting behind the wheel and how to create a positive outcome that promotes safety,” said DMV Commissioner Michael Bzdyra. “Each year the contest generates amazing work by students across the state, and we want the new theme to inspire the creative juices of students to promote safe driving.”
 
Travelers will award up to $26,000 in cash prizes to the winning students and their high schools. 
 
“We fully support the Connecticut DMV’s program that educates teens about the importance of safe driving,” said Michael Klein, Executive Vice President, and President of Personal Insurance at Travelers. “Teenagers talking to other teenagers about good driving habits can carry more weight, and we hope the contest sparks conversation and encourages young drivers to take precautions behind the wheel.”
 
The contest is open to all public, private and home-schooled high school students in Connecticut. Submissions must be submitted electronically or postmarked no later than December 15, 2017.
 
Since the contest began, nearly 3,500 students across the state have participated, representing more than 100 high schools. More information about the contest can be found at http://ct.gov/teendriving/contest.
 
Summary of requirements:
 
• PSA must be no longer than forty-five (:45) seconds in length.  
• It must demonstrate the theme: “Teen Safe Driver: Could This Be You? Every Second Matters.”
• PSA must show on it the hashtag  #CouldThisBeYou
• It must also address two specific teen driving laws. 
• The PSA must have a multicultural or diversity component because driving involves teens from all backgrounds, including race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, culture, etc.  Bi-lingual/multi-cultural videos are welcomed and encouraged. 
• Teams of students are limited to a maximum of 5 members, including the student director. 
• The PSA must feature at least two teens, along with any other teens or adults considered necessary for the creative safety message.
 
The complete set of rules can be found at http://ct.gov/teendriving/contest.  
 
In addition, a cash prize of $1,000 will go to the school with the video showing the best multicultural message, which has been underwritten by Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital.
 
A panel of judges comprised of safety advocates, health experts, and state officials will select the winners. Past contest winners can be found on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/teensafedriving12
 
Student advisors who worked on the project are Kenny Bigos of Suffield High School; Taurean Brown and Salma Tapkirwala, both of the Sport and Medical Science Academy in Hartford; Michael Dellaripa, Roham Hussain and Connor Silbo, all of Xavier High School in Middletown; Jalen Fontanez of East Hartford High School; Samantha Getsie of Berlin High School; Madison Massaro-Cook of Newington High School; Alex Proscino and Daniela Violano of Hamden High School; Esha Shrivastav of Kingswood-Oxford in West Hartford; Tess Chang and Rachel Saal of Hall High School in West Hartford; Maggie Silbo of Mercy High School in Middletown; Cole Wolkner and Evan Wolkner of Farmington High School; and Emma Zaleski of Wethersfield High School.
 
Other promotional contest partners include the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association; the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS); AAA; the Connecticut State Police; Mourning Parents Act (!MPACT); the Connecticut Children's Medical Center; Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital; Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center; the Connecticut Emergency Nurses Association; the state Department of Public Health; the state Department of Insurance; the state Department of Transportation; the state Department of Education; and the state Division of Criminal Justice.
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Submitted by Danbury, CT

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