NEW YORK, January 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The number of pedestrian fatalities in the United States jumped nearly 5% in 2020 to 6,721, accounting for more than 17% of all traffic-related fatalities. In addition, nearly 850 cyclists have been killed on our roads and 4,900 have been injured in collisions with motor vehicles.

In response to this ongoing tragedy, caused in large part by the distraction of road users, the National Road Safety Foundation has made pedestrian and cyclist safety the theme of this year’s Drive2Life PSA competition. Teens across the country are being asked to send in a script or written description of a 30-second television public service announcement that warns drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to be careful when sharing the road. The contest officially opens on January 17.

The winner will receive $2,000 prize and a chance to work with an Emmy Award-winning producer to turn their idea into a public service announcement that will air nationally on more than 170 television stations on the nationwide show “Teen Kids News next May during Global Youth Traffic Safety Month. In addition, two finalists in each category (Grades 6-8, 9-12) will each receive $500. The teachers of the winner and runners-up will each receive a $100 gift card.

“Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists have a responsibility to always be aware of their surroundings and not be distracted while traveling,” said michelle anderson from the National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes safe driving behavior. “Mobile phones and headphones have contributed to the rise in pedestrian and cyclist casualties, so it’s important that all road and secondary road users are not distracted. That’s the message we want that teens help us communicate through the Drive2Life PSA competition.”

The contest is again run in partnership with Young Minds Inspired (YMI), the nation’s leading provider of free outreach programs through its YMI Educator Network, reaching more than 2 million teachers across all public schools, private and parochial in the country. YMI has developed free educational materials for teachers and parents to use to talk to teens about sharing the road safely with vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles. This year, the Governors Highway Safety Association, which represents highway safety officials in all 50 states, is making the program available to their highway safety offices.

The deadline for registrations is March 21st, 2022. For more information, entry form, prize details and last year’s winning video, visit www.nrsf.org/contests/drive2life. No videos or group registrations will be accepted.

Last year’s winner was Laura Gonzalez, a high school student from Lithia, FL. His idea, for the drunk driving theme, was a throwback to the era of silent films, in black and white and using on-screen titles to show dialogue. In it, two girls come out of a party, with the driver obviously too drunk to drive. Her friend grabs the keys and brings them home safely while talking about the risks of drunk driving.

The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF), a non-profit organization, has created driver education and safe driving programs for 60 years for free distribution to teachers, police, traffic safety agencies, youth advocacy groups and others. NRSF has programs on distracted driving, speeding and aggression, impaired driving, drowsy driving, and other road safety issues. NRSF also sponsors national contests for teens in partnership with SADD and regional contests in partnership with auto shows in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, DC Free materials and videos are available at www.nrsf.org

YMI, launched in 1978, was the first company dedicated to educational outreach and has created over 2,000 programs for schools and youth programs. Each YMI program is developed by curriculum experts and reviewed by its Educator Advisory Board, an active group of teachers who ensure that programs meet academic standards and meet the practical needs of the classroom, while inspiring students. young minds.

Media Contact: David Reich
(914) 325-9997
[email protected]

SOURCE The National Road Safety Foundation