FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 15, 2014

DMV-Travelers Announces 7th Annual
Teen Safe Driving Video Contest

"Steer Your Friends in the Right Direction"

WETHERSFIELD – Teens have a chance to steer their friends in the right direction – literally – by participating in the 7th annual Department of Motor Vehicles and Travelers teen safe driving video contest.

DMV and Travelers announced today that the theme, “Steer Your Friends in the Right Direction,” will highlight their 2015 Teen Safe Driving Video Contest. It is open to all Connecticut public and private high school students, including those home schooled.  Nine student advisors selected this theme because of the unique influence teens can have on their friends to make safe and responsible driving-related decisions. 

The 25-second videos must illustrate two or more of the state's teen driving laws. The deadline for submitting a video is January 14, 2015 with winners announced in April.  Information and rules can be found at www.ct.gov/teendriving/contest  Travelers, the contest's co-sponsor, awards $15,000 in cash prizes to the high schools of the students creating the top 5 winning videos. Travelers for the first time will also award Visa gift cards to students who place 2nd through 10th in the contest. In addition, AT&T will award tablet computers the students who create the first-place video.

“Our teen advisors made clear that young people can have a special ability to alter the decisions of their peers,” DMV Commissioner Melody A. Currey said.  “This contest empowers students to use their skills and creativity to produce a powerful and life-saving video that speaks to other teens about safe driving.”

 “Travelers is committed to making Connecticut a safer place to drive,” said Henry Edinger, Chief Customer Officer at Travelers. “We are proud to support the 2015 Safe Driving Video contest, which encourages high school students to creatively illustrate the safe driving message. This year’s enhanced prize package is designed to match students’ enthusiasm that we’ve seen in previous years and helps ensure we maximize school participation.”

"AT&T Connecticut is pleased once again this year to partner with the Department of Motor Vehicles and Travelers to help warn and protect young drivers about the dangers of distracted driving," said AT&T Connecticut President John Emra.  "Whether its texting, talking, emailing or any other activity that may take a driver's full attention from the road, drivers need to put their devices away to avoid unnecessary distractions.  It can wait."

Last year more than 540 students participated in creating videos. Winning videos in past years can be found at http://www.youtube.com/teensafedriving12

Students advisors working on the project are Audrey Apanovitch of Glastonbury, who attends Glastonbury High School; Allie Caselli and Stephanie Lewis, both of Woodbury, and Hannah McCollam, of New Fairfield, all of whom attend Nonnewaug High School; Ama Appiah of Middletown and Sophia Pelletier of East Hampton, both attending Mercy High School;  Abhishek Gupta of Rocky Hill, who attends Xavier High School;  Benjamin Harlee of Hartford, who attends Classical Magnet School; and Estefania Maya of Wethersfield, who attends Wethersfield High School.

Kayla Beltrandi, of Enfield, and a senior at the University of Rhode Island, spent the summer working with the teen advisors to shape the contest and many of the approaches students are undertaking.

The nine students volunteered to help make the contest, which has run annually since 2009, appealing to teens across the state. The student-designed theme and use of social media by the teens are features in the contest that the student advisors want to use to encourage entries. The student advisors suggested that the contest for the first time award individual prizes to runner-up students.

Other promotional contest partners include the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association; 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; and the state Division of Criminal Justice.

A panel of judges comprised of safety advocates, public health professionals and state officials select the winners. High schools are required to use the winning funds to create teen safe driving programs.