Teens in the Driver Seat

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Driving the Message Contest

17th Annual Driving the Message Contest. Now new categories for more chances to win.

Check out the 2024 winning entries!

Come back in October for details on the 18th Annual Driving the Message Contest that will launch in November 2024.

Category 1: Rail Safety Posters

First Place Winner – Edwin Gonzalez-Perez
Transmountain Early College High School
El Paso, TX
Poster depicting car trying to cross in front of oncoming train with the text, "Be sure to wait, you can't beat the train. Don't rush, avoid the crush: rail safety is a must!"		 Second Place Winner – Valeria Fuentes
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Fort Worth, TX
Poster depicting a train with the text, "Don't let the rush get you crushed."		 Third Place Winner – Chloe Semple
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Fort Worth, TX
Poster depicting a train with the text, "Stay alert don't get hurt. Safety first."
Honorable Mention – Melanie Vazquez
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Fort Worth, TXPoster depicting car heading for train tracks that says, "Look both ways before crossing."		 Honorable Mention – Emily Varo
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Fort Worth, TXPoster depicting vehicle colliding with rail crossing gate that says, "Hit the brakes NOT the stakes."		 Honorable Mention – Sophia Anahi Nava
Transmountain Early College High School
El Paso, TXPoster depicting train driving through the desert with rail safety taglines.
Honorable Mention – Anisha Reddipalli
Frisco ISD Career and Technology Education Center
Frisco, TXPoster depicting stylized train tracks as a race starting line with the text, "This isn't a race. Don't try to beat a train."		 Honorable Mention – Ayesha Baig
MacArthur High School
Irving, TXPoster depicting vehicle colliding with train at rail grade crossing with the text, "All it takes is one distraction. Your text can wait, but your safety is #1 priority!"		 Honorable Mention – Andrea Armas
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Fort Worth, TXPoster depicting vehicle driving towards rail grade crossing with the text, "Don't risk your life."

Category 2: Night Driving Posters

First Place Winner – Llanah Gonzalez
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Fort Worth, TXPoster depicting a dotted trail between two destinations with the text, "drive safe. someone loves you."		 Second Place Winner – Ella Stiger
Transmountain Early College High School
El Paso, TXPoster depicting vehicle driving at night through a dirt road under a moon with a speedomoter imposed over it with the text, "Stay awake, don't make a mistake. If you feel drowsy, pull over to a safe area and take a break."		 Third Place Winner – Jenna Clark
Southeastern High School
South Charleston, OHPoster depicting car driving through city at night with the text, "Alert tonight, alive tomorrow."
Honorable Mention – Ashley Martinez
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Fort Worth, TXPoster depicting a cat with laser eyes shooting at a car with the text, "Only cats have night vision and 9 lives. You're not a cat and you only have 1 life. Pay attention."		 Honorable Mention – Veronica Mitchell
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Fort Worth, TXPoster depicting floating text and eye masks that says, "Don't dream and drive. Stay alert on the road."		 Honorable Mention – Vanessa Chavez
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Fort Worth, TXPoster depicting a sketch of a young woman driving with the text, "You can't erase bad driving. 62% of teen crash deaths occur between 6pm and 6am."
Honorable Mention – Lilian Doze
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Fort Worth, TXPoster depicting setting sun with the text, "Slow down at sundown. Before driving be sure to aim your headlights, slow down, minimize distractions, and stay alert."		 Honorable Mention – Breeona Harris
Transmountain Early College High School
El Paso, TXPoster depicting a road at night from a driver's perspective with the text, "Nighttime vigilance, road safety brilliance. Don't snooze and cruise. Stay awake at the wheel."

Category 3: Our Why Videos

First Place Winner – My Why
Lauren Hohnholt, Vivian Hohnholt, Arturo Soto-Rios, Juan Alonzo, Leia Stubbs, Heidi Houck, Quantay Whitten, Keyla Hernandez, Yaretzy Hernandez, David Hohnhold, and Maria Hohnholt
Transmountain Early College High School
El Paso, TX		 Second Place Winner – Our Why!
Gabrielle Al-Ameeri, Ava Darmos, Katelyn Drop, Annamarie Loy, Jaden Orlandi, Kailey Pilarsh, Bradyn Silvasy, Addison Stump, and Gianna Vrooman
Amherst Steele High School
Amherst, OH
Third Place Winner – Drive Safe For Gizmmo and Boss
Twyla Tarter
Whitewright High School
Whitewright, TX		 Honorable Mention – My Why
Lucas Rosenthal, Emily Bergen, Bailee Borror, Madilyn Martin, Claire Wallace, Kennedy Helmkamp, and Traegan Madeline
Gillespie High School
Gillespie, IL
Honorable Mention – Drowsy Driving
Jayla Cruz, Ainsley Hunker, and Isabella Thomas-Friend
Amherst Steele High School
Amherst, OH		 Honorable Mention – Race to Safety
Alani HIcks, Haley Vo, and Veronica Mitchell
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Fort Worth, TX

RULES

  • Entry is open to junior high and high school students in the United States and must follow the specifications stated below.
  • Entries must address the current year’s themes.
  • Students may submit more than one entry.
  • Entries that display dangerous or illegal activities 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, and being in a vehicle while parked. Be safe, be smart.
  • Entries submitted with evidence of illegal use of copyrighted material will be disqualified. The use of company logos and other product names (for cars, beverages, etc.) is also prohibited.
  • All required forms must be received by the contest deadline to be eligible for prizes.
  • Any person(s) whose photo appears in a poster entry must complete a video/photo release form and the completed form(s) must accompany the entry.
  • Judging is based on originality, creativity, and how well you follow the stated theme and messaging central to the Teens in the Driver Seat® program.
  • 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.
  • Awards are made payable to the school the student attends, in all categories.
  • 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

  • Posters 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.
  • Posters must address the current year’s risk topics.
  • Posters should not include any copyrighted material (such as copyrighted images, photos or characters).
  • Poster graphics must 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.
  • Hand-drawn posters must be scanned and submitted.
  • Entry and release forms must be submitted with each entry.
  • 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 received.

VIDEO SPECS

  • Develop a video message that is 60-120 seconds long.
  • Do not add logos, names of students, social media handles, or school names to your entry.
  • Videos must address the current year’s theme to be eligible for prizes.
  • 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.

 

Past Winners: