(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that teenage students and high schools in Connecticut can win up to $26,000 in prizes by entering a submission into Connecticut’s 16th annual Teen Safe Driving Video Contest hosted by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Travelers.
The contest calls on teens to create video public service announcements with compelling messages that motivate their peers to always practice safe driving whenever getting behind the wheel.
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens in the United States. In 2022, there were 2,514 people killed in crashes across the country involving a teenage driver between the ages of 15 and 18.
“Vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death among teens, and some of the largest contributing factors include speeding and distracted driving, such as being on cell phones or doing other risky behaviors while in the car with friends,” Governor Lamont said. “This contest is a way to engage students and high schools into having a dialogue on the importance of safe driving and encourage teens to spread that message with their peers. I appreciate that Travelers is willing to partner with Connecticut’s DMV to amplify this important message.”
The contest is open to all public, private, and home-schooled high school students in Connecticut between the ages of 14 and 18. Students are required to produce a creative, unique, and effective video public service announcement no longer than 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 the House chairperson of the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee in 2008 when he helped lead the effort to enact major reforms within Connecticut’s laws aimed at increasing safety for teen drivers.
“Teen motor vehicle crashes continue to be a serious issue in Connecticut and across the country, and this contest provides a unique opportunity to prevent a crash and maybe safe a life with their video skills,” Commissioner Guerrera said.
This year, Travelers has increased the number of contest prizes and will award up to $26,000 in cash and other prizes to the winning students and their high schools.
“Unsafe driving can have life-altering consequences, not just for the individuals behind the wheel, but for entire communities,” Michael Klein, executive vice president and president of personal insurance at Travelers, said. “This is why Travelers has long been committed to promoting safety on our roads, particularly for teen drivers, who are still learning to navigate the complexities of driving responsibly.”
Since the contest began, nearly 5,000 students representing 120 high schools across Connecticut have participated.
To read the full contest rules and instructions on how to submit a video, visit ct.gov/teendriving/contest. The deadline for submissions is February 3, 2025.
To watch winning videos from previous years, click here.