NSC Video Contest Promotes Distraction-Free Driving
The maker of the winning video will earn $2,000, and second place earns $1,000. Entries must be mailed in by March 31.
The National Safety Council and FocusDriven – Advocates for Cell-Free Driving are sponsoring an "On the Road, Off the Phone" public service announcement contest to raise public awareness of the dangers of cellphone use while driving. Video PSA entries should not focus on texting while driving, the organizers say.
NSC has long been concerned with distracted driving and cellphone use while behind the wheel. It says distracted driving kills at least 5,500 people each year, and the number one distraction behind the wheel is cellphone use. It cites these facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- At any given daylight moment, fewer than than 1 percent of drivers are texting on a phone, but about 9 percent of drivers are talking on phones.
- Of the 23 percent of crashes involving cellphone use each year, only 2 percent involve texting.
Video entries must be mailed in, and the deadline is March 31. Contest rules are available here. The entries must consist of original, non-copyrighted material, must include the NSC and FocusDriven logos, and must be less than three minutes long. The winning PSA will be featured on the NSC and FocusDriven websites. Winners will be announced in April during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. First place will earn $2,000, second place $1,000, and third place $500.
The contest's sponsor is Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. A statement on the contest website from Rich Kramer, CEO, president, and chairman of Goodyear, says, "Goodyear is a strong advocate of safety, particularly on the road. We expect our associates to set good examples, and that includes how cell devices are used while driving. By sponsoring the On the Road, Off the Phone PSA contest, Goodyear is taking our responsibility a step further and encouraging all drivers around the country to think about safety and put down their cell phones while driving."