The Chicago Auto Show Encourages Local Teens to Submit Distracted Driving Campaigns in Third Annual "Drive Safe Chicago" Contest
MEDIA INFORMATION
Contact: Jennifer Morand
Director of Public Relations and Social Media
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6084
Cell: (630) 391-1986
Email: jmorand@drivechicago.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Chicago Auto Show Encourages Local Teens to Submit Distracted Driving Campaigns in Third Annual "Drive Safe Chicago" Contest
Winning Public Service Announcement to Debut at 2017 Chicago Auto Show and Air Nationwide; Student to Win $2,000
CHICAGO (Oct. 5, 2016) - For the third year, the Chicago Auto Show has partnered with the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) to host the "Drive Safe Chicago" contest and generate awareness about distracted driving. The "Drive Safe Chicago" contest invites teens from Illinois and neighboring states to submit ideas for a 30-second public service announcement about distracted driving.
The top three student finalists, determined through online voting, will have the chance to work with an Emmy Award-winning TV producer to turn the script into a public service announcement that will debut at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show and air nationwide. In addition, the Chicago Auto Show Chairman will award the winning student during a special presentation at the show's Media Preview and the NRSF will present him or her a check for $2,000. The award presentation is held in conjunction with the Chicago Auto Show, which runs from Feb. 11-20, 2017.
"Distracted driving is a serious risk that needs to be addressed at all levels," said 2017 Chicago Auto Show Chairman Mike McGrath, Jr. "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. We hope the 'Drive Safe Chicago' campaign engages teens to be messengers both to their peers and to all drivers that distracted driving is dangerous driving."
Last year's "Drive Safe Chicago" award recipient was Abigail Evans, a senior at Washington Township High School in Indiana. Her video featured four teens in a car making plans to go ice skating. As they talk excitedly, numbers flashed on the screen: 3,154 people are killed every year due to distracted driving; 424,000 people are injured each year; and 10 percent of drivers under 20 in fatal crashes were distracted. As the teens are talking, the driver decides to text a friend to tell her to meet at the skating rink. Distracted, she crosses the center line into the path of an oncoming car. As we hear screaming and the sounds of a crash, the screen goes black and the following appears: "Don't be just another number. Don't text and drive."
Distracted driving doesn't just mean texting. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 3,300 people are killed every year due to distracted driving, and tens of thousands more are injured. Texting and cell phone use get the most attention, but drivers can be distracted by many other things including use of other mobile devices like GPS, adjusting sound system controls, eating and talking with passengers.
"Driving is not something that can be done safely while multi-tasking," said National Road Safety Foundation Director of Operations Michelle Anderson. "We hope 'Drive Safe Chicago' will engage young people to spread the message and change behavior."
Information on the "Drive Safe Chicago" contest, including the contest rules and entry form, can be found at nrsf.org/teenlane/content/drive-safe-chicago. The contest entry deadline is Dec. 14, 2016. All entrants will also receive two free tickets to the 2017 Chicago Auto Show. For more details or photos, please contact Mark Bilek, mbilek@drivechicago.com, or Jennifer Morand, jmorand@drivechicago.com.
About the Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show on the continent, spanning 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 2017 public show will be February 11-20. For more information, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com or Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.
About 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, deal with distracted driving, speed and aggression, impaired driving, drowsy driving, driver proficiency and pedestrian safety. The Foundation also works with key 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.
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