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Three local teens have been identified by the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) as finalists in the seventh Drive Safe Chicago teen public service announcement (PSA) challenge, in partnership with the Chicago Auto Show and Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), producer of the Chicago Auto Show. Dozens of entries submitted by teens from Illinois and surrounding states all included ideas for a 30-second PSA about the dangers of distracted driving and risks on the road, which result in approximately 7,500 pedestrian and bicyclist deaths nationwide.

The three finalists are Theodore Biela, 18, a student at Rickover Naval Academy in Chicago; Brynn Baker, 17, who attends Gillespie High School in Gillespie, Illinois; and Ransom True, 17, a student at FWCS Career Academy in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Each student finalist worked with an Emmy Award-winning producer to transform their PSA submissions into 30-second produced TV commercials. The public is encouraged to cast their votes for the winning PSA today through Monday, March 14. The winner will be publicly announced by the NRSF on Tuesday, March 15.

The winner will receive $2,000 and have his or her PSA nationally syndicated on Teen Kids News reaching more than 160 stations across the country. The first runner-up will be awarded $1,000 and the second runner-up will receive $500.  
“We thank the students who are finalists in the Drive Safe Chicago contest for their compelling scripts that we hope will alert drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists to travel safely as they share the roads,” said Michelle Anderson, director of operations, National Road Safety Foundation.

“We appreciate the ongoing partnership with the NRSF on the Drive Safe Chicago contest,” said Chicago Auto Show Chairman Bill Haggerty. “It’s great to see youth getting involved in efforts like this to spread this very important message to their peers in a way that resonates with that demographic.”

The public can cast their votes March 7-14 via this link. 

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