Driving the Message Contest

The 19^th Annual Driving the Message Contest brings you three exciting categories, giving you more opportunities to showcase your creative talents. And – you know what that means – three different categories, three chances to win! Each category has a specific focus, so pick one (or two or three) and show us what you’ve got!

The contest opens November 1, 2025, and the entry deadline is February 13, 2026. Entries should focus on positive behaviors and not promote illegal activities.

CATEGORIES:

TDS Program High School T-Shirt Design

Create a design that uses safe driving themes, slogans, or visuals to inspire teens, spread awareness about risks (like distractions, speeding, seat belt use, nighttime driving, and impaired driving), and reinforce positive behavior. Your artwork may become the official TDS shirt—shared across the country as a part of our resource toolkits!

See current high school and junior high school shirt designs below for inspiration.

T-Shirt Specs:

- T-shirt designs can be any size, up to 10-by-10 inches, and may be used on the front or back of the shirt, or both.
- Entries must be submitted electronically, in ai., eps., pdf., jpg., or png. format.
- Hand-drawn entries must be scanned and submitted electronically.

“Safe Driving is Always a Reel Winner” Social Media Reel

Teens spend a lot of time on social media—this is your chance to reach peers where they already are. Create a short reel around the tagline “Safe Driving Is Always a Reel Winner.” Mimic a current social media trend, along with social media style content—fast cuts, filters, memes—to highlight making smart choices behind the wheel and in the car.

Social Media Reel Specs:

Develop a social media reel that is 30-60 seconds long.
Video entries must be submitted electronically.
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.

“Be a Leader, not a Speeder” PSA Video

Speeding is a top risk factor for teen crashes. By flipping the script—making it cool to lead by example—you promote maturity, care for others, and awareness that speed isn’t something to show off. Drive home the message: Be a Leader, not a Speeder, and show how driving to the speed limit demonstrates real responsibility.

PSA Video Specs:

Develop a video message that is 60-120 seconds long.
Video entries must be submitted electronically.
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.

PRIZES:

Shirt Design and Social Media Reel Prizes:

1st Place – $2,000
2nd Place – $1,000
3rd Place – $500

PSA Video Prizes:

1st Place – $1,500 PLUS an NRSF film crew, led by an Emmy-award winning producer, will come to your campus to professionally re-film your video!
2nd Place – $750
3rd Place – $500

HIGHLIGHTS:

Entry is open to all junior high and high school students within the contiguous United States.
Prize money is payable to the school (sorry, we’re not allowed to award these funds to students).
Program schools that submit at least 3 T-shirt design entries or 1 video entry will earn All-Star Reward credit.
Enter as many times as you like.

HELPFUL HINTS:

Pick the category that fits your strengths or interests most:
- Love drawing or graphic design? Go for the T‑shirt design.
- Have a flair for viral content or social media humor? Try the “Safe Driving is Always a Reel Winner” short video.
- Prefer storytelling or creating a narrative that influences behavior? Create the “Be a Leader, not a Speeder” PSA.
We are looking for positive safety messaging focused on teens – address what happens when you do the right thing, change risky habits, or convince a friend to be safe.
Fear-based messaging, such as crashes, blood, and bodies, will not be accepted. Entries that display illegal or dangerous activities, such as a video showing teens driving on the street while texting or not wearing a seat belt, will be disqualified. Closed courses, with appropriate safety precautions, are allowed – closed parking lots, private land with no traffic, or being in a vehicle while parked.
Avoid using statistics to keep your message from becoming dated too quickly.
Submit entries in the highest quality possible. Begin with high quality and end with high quality. Avoid low-quality phone pictures and videos.
For information on copyright, go to http://www.copyright.com/learn/about-copyright/
Send all questions to Andrea Chacon at a-chacon@tti.tamu.edu. Type CONTEST in the subject line. Please allow 3 days for a reply. Do not use this email for entry submission.

ENTRY RULES

See additional category specifications above.
Entries must be time-stamped no later than 11:59 PM February 13, 2026, to be eligible for the Driving the Message Contest.
Entry and release forms must be submitted with each entry. All required forms must be received by the contest deadline to be eligible for prizes.
Entry is open to junior high and high school students in the United States.
Students may submit more than one entry, in more than one category.
Entries should include only original artwork. Use of downloaded, AI-generated, copied, or printed graphics is not permissible and will result in disqualification. Software or online programs may be used to assemble or edit your entry; however, at least 90% of your entry must be generated by your own creativity and concept.
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.
Use of copyrighted material (such as copyrighted music, video clips, images, photos, or characters, or copyrighted logos and brands) is not permissible and will result in disqualification. This includes clothing, products, and vehicle manufacturers.
Do not add logos, names of students, social media handles, school names, or any other identifying information to your entry, visually or verbally. This includes identifying information on clothing or surroundings.
Any person(s) whose photo appears in a poster entry must complete a video/photo release form. Complete forms 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.
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 and the Youth Transportation Safety Program reserve the right to withdraw, terminate, suspend, cancel, or modify all or part of the contest at any time without notice.
All decisions are final.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Step 1 Entry Form:

Complete the ENTRY FORM below for each entry.

Step 2 Release Form:

Each student involved in the production of 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:

Anyone who appears in the entry but is NOT involved in its production 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/