High School Students Invited to Help Promote Safe Driving Through PennDOT Radio Contest

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is inviting high school students across the state to help remind motorists to “Drive Safe PA” through a unique contest.

High school sophomores, juniors and seniors are invited to create a 30-second radio public service announcement, or PSA, focused on aggressive driving, buckling up or driving under the influence. The PSA must include the phrase “Drive Safe PA,” which PennDOT is introducing as part of its continued commitment to highway safety.

“As young drivers, high school students have a fresh perspective on the importance of safe driving,” said PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E. “Our hope is that through this competition, teens will start to talk more about safe driving behaviors and use their creativity to spread the word to others about how to drive safely through Drive Safe PA.”

According to PennDOT, there were 1,491 fatalities in Pennsylvania in 2007. Of those, 101 fatalities involved a 16- or 17-year-old driver, which was an increase from 68 in 2006.

One finalist will be chosen from each of PennDOT’s 11 engineering districts. The winning students will be offered the opportunity to travel to Harrisburg to have the PSA professionally recorded and then distributed to radio stations in their respective areas. Winning students from each PennDOT district will receive certificates and finished copies of their PSA.

Students can submit a completed audio PSA or written script which can be sent via e-mail to RA-penndotpress@state.pa.us or mailed to PennDOT Press Office, c/o Alison Wenger, 8th Floor-Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17120. Entries must be received or postmarked by Feb. 28.

For complete contest rules, visit www.dot.state.pa.us and click on Drive Safe PA.

    CONTACT:
    Alison Wenger
    (717) 783-8800

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Transportation