FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2023

DMV-TRAVELERS INSURANCE VIDEO CONTEST OFFERS UP TO $26,000 IN PRIZES TO TEENS AND SCHOOLS

Students can submit their video now through January 31, 2024

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Travelers are teaming up to co-sponsor Connecticut’s 15th annual Teen Safe Driving Video Contest, which engages high school students to promote responsible decision making when operating a motor vehicle.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens in the United States. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show 2,608 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver in 2021.

“This annual contest is an opportunity to educate teenagers on the dangers of distracted driving and the importance of making smart decisions when getting behind the wheel,” Governor Lamont said. “Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for American teens. This contest helps spread the message associated with risk-taking behavior when driving a vehicle.”

The contest is open to all public, private, and home-schooled high school students in Connecticut between the ages of 14 to 18. It requires students to produce a creative, unique, and effective video public service announcement up to 45 seconds in length that highlights interactions between drivers and other teens and illustrates ways to practice safer driving habits while obeying Connecticut’s teen driving laws. The videos must also address at least one specific Connecticut teen driving law.

DMV Commissioner Antonio “Tony” Guerrera was House chair of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Transportation Committee in 2008. He helped lead the effort to change state laws to increase safety for teen drivers. “The contest theme, ‘Driving Safe Habits’, sums up the purpose of the contest – getting teens to think about the choices they will make before taking the keys and getting into a vehicle.  We appreciate Travelers joining us in this effort to spread this important safety message because these laws do make a difference.” 

Travelers will award up to $26,000 in cash and other prizes to the winning students and their high schools. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2024.

“Encouraging the next generation of drivers to make informed and responsible choices today can help us all achieve a safer tomorrow,” said Michael Klein, Executive Vice President and President of Personal Insurance at Travelers. “Through the Teen Safe Driving Video Contest, students from across the state are helping to educate their peers about the role all drivers play in avoiding common roadway risks that can lead to serious, and even fatal, consequences.”  

Since the contest began, nearly 5,000 students representing 100 high schools across the state have participated.

To read the full contest rules and information on how to submit a video, visit ct.gov/teendriving/contest.

To watch videos of contest winners from prior years, visit youtube.com/teensafedriving12.

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