FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 27, 2013

Entries Must Be Submitted by January 15, 2014

WETHERSFIELD – One way the state Department of Motor Vehicles is fighting teen driving crashes and injuries is through its video contest for high school students. There's still time for entries that can bring winning prize money to high schools.

Teen Drivers: Put Your Brakes on Distractions! is the contest theme. The deadline for submitting a video is January 15, 2014. The contest calls on the state’s high school students to create a 25-second public service announcement. Information and rules can be found at www.ct.gov/teendriving/contest.

The 25-second videos also must illustrate two or more of the state's teen driving laws. The contest is open to all high-school age students.

“The holiday break is an ideal time to put together a video with a very important safety message,” DMV Commissioner Melody A. Currey said. “Teen drivers need to be reminded that they must be focused on their actions behind the wheel. Any distractions -- large or small -- can cause a moment of inattention and serious consequences including crashes, injuries and deaths."

The contest theme was developed by a group of student advisors representing several Connecticut high schools. The advisors said this theme delivers a simple message and challenges other teens to craft a message that can influence others to drive more safely.

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that, in 2011, motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver resulted in the death of 3,331 people - eleven percent of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. Per miles driven, the crash rate for teens 16 to 19 years-old is four times higher than for adults - this crash risk is even higher during the first year a teenager is eligible to drive.

Travelers, the contest's co-sponsor, awards $15,000 in cash prizes to the high schools of winning students and hosts the contest's award ceremony at its conference center in Windsor, Conn. Students on the first-place winning team will be awarded iPads awarded from AT&T.