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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2016 — Abigail Evans, a senior at Washington Township (Ind.) High School has been selected winner of the second annual Drive Safe Chicago PSA Contest. She was one of three finalists whose videos about distracted driving were put up for public voting online. Abigail garnered 2,126 votes, from a total of 5,154 votes cast online. At a news conference at the Chicago Auto Show today, her video was shown and she received a prize of $2,000 from The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit group that promotes safe driving.
The Drive Safe Chicago Contest, held in conjunction with the Chicago Auto Show, invited teens from the Chicagoland area to spread the word about the dangers of distracted driving with a script for a public service message. Three finalists, all students of Greg Simms at Washington Township High School, had their scripts made into finished TV spots by the Emmy Award-winning producer of the nationally syndicated TV show Teen Kids News, who spent two days at the school working with the teens to shoot the public service messages. The finalists’ spots were posted on the Chicago Auto Show’s Facebook page and the public was invited to vote online for their favorite public service announcement.
“All our finalists have done a great job communicating the risks of distracted driving,” said Michelle Anderson, Director of Operations at The National Road Safety Foundation. “The public has spoken, and we congratulate Abigail for a great concept that clearly has resonated with people.”
Abigail’s video will be shown on the auto show’s social media video wall throughout the show, which is open to the public through Feb. 21. It also will be broadcast later this year on more than 220 TV stations nationwide on Teen Kids News.
First runner-up Dustin Payne received 1,563 votes and second runner-up Paige Ruesch got 1,465.
“Distracted driving is a serious risk that needs to be addressed at all levels,” said Colin Wickstrom, 2016 Chicago Auto Show chairman. “Today’s cars are safer than ever, with many innovations that help avoid crashes and protect occupants in the event of one. But driver inattention – distraction – continues to be a major factor in crashes. The Drive Safe Chicago campaign engages teens to be messengers both to their peers and to all drivers that distracted driving is dangerous driving.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates more than 3,300 people are killed every year due to distracted driving, and tens of thousands more are injured. The most talked-about causes of distraction are texting and cell phone use, but drivers also can be distracted by use of other mobile devices like GPS, as well as adjusting sound system controls, talking with passengers or even eating.
People can view all three finalists’ videos on the Chicago Auto Show’s Facebook page at http://bit.ly/1Sxa7ck. Information on distracted driving and Drive Safe Chicago is on The National Road Safety Foundation’s site at www.nrsf.org/teenlane/content/drive-safe-chicago.
Last year’s winner was Rachel Diaz of Valparaiso, Ind.
The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. (NRSF) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that for more than 50 years has been dedicated to reducing crashes, deaths and injuries on our nation’s highways by promoting safe driving habits through greater public awareness.
NRSF produces documentaries, educational programs and public service campaigns for broadcast and for use in safety, educational and enforcement programs by police, teachers, traffic safety agencies, healthcare professionals, youth advocacy groups and other grass-roots related agencies, as well as federal, state and local government agencies. NRSF programs, which are free, cover distracted driving, speed and aggression, impaired driving, drowsy driving, driver proficiency and pedestrian safety. The Foundation also works with youth advocacy groups and sponsors contests to engage teens in promoting safe driving to their peers and in their communities. For more information or to download free programs, visit www.nrsf.org or www.teenlane.org.
The Chicago Auto Show, the largest auto show on the continent, spans more than 1 million square feet of production, concept, and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North America vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show’s First Look for Charity raises more than $2 million annually for 18 vital Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2016 public show will be February 13-21. For more information, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com or Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.
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