Annual Driving the Message Contest

Stay Tuned! Information on the 17th Annual Driving the Message Contest will be available soon!

2023 WINNERS!

First Place

Mackenzie VanDyke, Trumbull Career and Technical Center, Warren, OH

Second Place

Joely Donnell, Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Fort Worth, TX

Third Place

Alexis Flores, Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Fort Worth, TX

Teen Choice

Taylor Pumphrey, Frisco Career and Technical Education Center, Frisco, TX

Sponsor Choice

Sriananya Chaganti, Frisco Career and Technical Education Center, Frisco, TX

First Place Video

Elizabeth Wicker, Norfolk Senior High School, Norfolk, NE

Second Place Video

Twyla Tarter, Will Donaldson, Kenneth York, Madalyn Burns, Mallory Whiten, and Ayden Goodman, Whitewright High School, Whitewright, TX

Third Place Video

Addison Stump, Hananiah Smith, Brina Guan, and Jaden Orlandi, Amherst Steele High School, Amherst, OH

Teen Choice Video

Athena Chen and Kavya Dewangan, Frisco Career and Technical Education Center, Frisco, TX

Sponsor Choice Video

Kaylee Hornback and Keith Kibler, Frisco Career and Technical Education Center, Frisco, TX

2023 Honorable Mentions

Sriananya Chaganti, Frisco Career and Technical Education Center, Frisco, TX	Dominique Sennet, Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Fort Worth, TX
Dulse Puga, Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Fort Worth, TX	Sophia Hawkins, Trumbull Career and Technical Center, Warren, OH
Joshua Benitez, La Vernia High School, La Vernia, TX	Deena Alabed, Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Fort Worth, TX
Jose Fernandez and Sri Saket Vishwanath, Frisco Career and Technical Education Center, Frisco, TX	Gina Xu and Lisa Partain, Frisco Career and Technical Education Center, Frisco, TX
Blake George and Joseph Osgood, Frisco Career and Technical Education Center, Frisco, TX	Jason Whidby, Zachariah Liesching, and Vittorio Lester, Frisco Career and Technical Education Center, Frisco, TX
Madison Trujillo, Frisco Career and Technical Education Center, Frisco, TX	Nicole Martinez, Eagle Pass High School, Eagle Pass, TX

HIGHLIGHTS

The contest is open on November 1, 2022, and the deadline for entries is January 27, 2023
Enter a poster and/or video
Enter as many times as you like
Any Junior High (Middle) or High School student from anywhere in the U.S. can enter
Cash prizes are awarded to the school (sorry, we’re not allowed to award these funds to students)
Schools that submit at least 3 poster entries or 1 video entry could use Driving the Message as a one-time All-Risk activity for All-Stars Rewards credit.

TIPS

Entries with crashes, blood, bodies, and are fear-based do not fare well in judging and are not encouraged. Think positive safety messaging – address what happens when you do the right thing, change risky habits, or convince a friend to be safe.
You will be disqualified if your video entry displays an illegal or dangerous activity! Such as a video showing teens driving on a street while texting or not wearing a seat belt. Closed courses, with appropriate safety precautions, are allowed – closed parking lots, private land with no traffic, being in a vehicle while parked.
Keep the message focus on teens and for teens. Always think about your end audience. We need your voice to spread the message about safe driving.
Prize money is payable to the entrant’s school, not the individual(s).
Submit entries in the highest quality possible. Begin with high quality to end with high quality. This means low-quality phone pictures and video are not the best material to start with.
For more information on copyright, go to http://www.copyright.com/learn/about-copyright/
Send all questions to Stacey Tisdale at [email protected]. Type CONTEST in the subject line. Do not use this email for entry submission. Please allow 3 days for a reply.

RULES

Entries must be postmarked or email time-stamped no later than January 28, 2023, to be eligible for the Driving the Message contest.
Entry is open to high school and junior high students in the United States.
Entries must address the issue of driving safety by focusing on one or more of the following risks teens face behind the wheel or as a young passenger – nighttime/drowsy driving, speeding, distractions, seat belts, impaired driving, pedestrian/bike safety, and/or driving dangerously around large trucks and railroad safety.
Entries that display a dangerous or illegal activity will be disqualified, i.e. a video showing teens driving on a street while texting or not wearing a seat belt. Closed courses, with appropriate safety precautions, are allowed – closed parking lots, private land with no traffic, being in a vehicle while parked. Be safe, be smart.
Entries submitted with evidence of illegal use of copyrighted material will not be considered for judging. The use of company logos and other product names (for cars, beverages, etc.) is also prohibited.
You may submit more than one entry.
Each student who submits an entry must submit appropriate forms (see forms in steps below). If you are part of a group/class submission, each student involved must have a release form. Complete, signed entry forms must accompany entries.
All person(s) whose photo appears in a poster entry must complete a video/photo release form. Complete signed video/photo release forms must accompany entry.
Software or online programs may be used to assemble/edit your entry, however, at least 90% of your entry must be generated by your own creativity and concept.
Judging will be based upon originality, creativity, and by how well you follow the messages that are central to the Teens in the Driver Seat® program.
Entry must follow the specs listed below.
Awards will be given, payable to the school the student attends, in all categories.
- First Place Poster and Video – $1,000
- Second Place Poster and Video – $500
- Third Place Poster and Video – $250
All entries become the property of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and all or part of your entry can be used to advance and support the Youth Transportation Safety Program or the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute is not responsible for lost, damaged, misdirected, or delayed entries.
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute reserves the right to withdraw, terminate, suspend, cancel or modify all or part of the contest at any time without notice.
The Youth Transportation Safety Program reserves the right to change any of these rules and/or prizes.
All decisions are final.

POSTER SPECS

Your poster can be any size, up to 11-by-17 inches.
Do not add logos, names of students, social media handles, or school names to your entry.
The poster must address the issue of traffic safety by focusing on one or more of the following topics – nighttime/drowsy driving, speeding, distractions, seat belts, impaired driving, pedestrian/bike safety, driving/walking safely around railroads, and/or driving dangerously around large trucks.
The poster should not include any copyrighted material (such as copyrighted images, photos or characters).
Poster graphics should be original work. Posters that include downloaded, copied or printed graphics from other sources will be disqualified.
Posters must be submitted electronically, in PDF or JPG format.
All entry and release forms must be submitted.
Hand-drawn posters must be scanned and submitted.
Posters will be printed or electronically displayed, in color, for judging. The Youth Transportation Safety Program is not responsible for the quality of print. Electronic files will be printed as is.

VIDEO SPECS

Develop a video message that is 30-60 seconds long.
Do not add logos, names of students, social media handles, or school names to your entry.
The video must address the issue of driving safety by focusing on one or more of the top five risks teens face behind the wheel or as a young passenger – nighttime/drowsy driving, speeding, distractions, seat belts, and/or impaired driving.
Do not include any copyrighted material (such as copyrighted music, video clips, or copyrighted logos and brands).
High-quality formats are preferred, .avi, .mov, .mp4, and similar formats are all accepted.
Additional specs, 852 x 480, 1280 x 720, 1920 x 1080, 192kpbs MPEG audio, 29fps and 1640kbps video is ideal.
Video entries must be submitted electronically.

What Happens After You Enter?

Once the contest has closed, judging is completed by our Teen Advisory Board, then a panel of program sponsors, who independently review each entry. No school or student names are displayed with the entry.
Judging is based on originality, creativity, and how well the safety message is portrayed.
If your entry wins a place, your teacher/sponsor will be contacted immediately after judging.
Your school will need to submit paperwork (sent via email upon notification of winning) as soon as possible to claim prizes.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Step 1 Entry Form:

Complete the ENTRY FORM below. 1 per entry.

Step 2 Release Form:

Each student submitting the entry must submit a Driving the Message release form. If you are under 18 years of age, please send this page URL to your parent or guardian to complete. You may not sign in place of your parent. https://www.t-driver.com/driving-the-message-release-form/

OR, complete and return the paper release form.

Step 3 Release Form for Others:

Every person photographed or who appears in your poster/video and who IS NOT submitting a Driving the Message release form (Step 2) must submit a Photo and Video Release Form. If the person is under 18 years of age, their parent or guardian must complete the form. They may not sign in place of their parent/guardian. https://www.t-driver.com/releaseform/