DRIVESAFE CHICAGO CONTEST VOTING NOW OPEN
MEDIA INFORMATION
Contact: Mark Bilek
Senior Director of Communications and Technology
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6082
Cell: (847) 652-0632
Email: mbilek@drivechicago.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DRIVESAFE CHICAGO CONTEST VOTING NOW OPEN
CHICAGO (March 3, 2022) – 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.
For more information on the Drive Safe Chicago contest, visit: www.nrsf.org/contests/drive-safe-chicago. For information about the Chicago Auto Show or CATA, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com and cata.info, respectively.
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About the Chicago Auto Show
First staged in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show is the nation's longest running auto exposition in North America. The show is produced by the Chicagoland's new-car dealer association, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, which has staged the show since 1935. The 2022 public show is Feb. 12-21 at McCormick Place. For more information and the latest updates, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com or Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.com.
About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Founded in 1904 and located in Oakbrook Terrace, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is comprised of more than 400 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 19,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information, please visit www.CATA.info.
About The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc.
(NRSF), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization founded 60 years ago, produces traffic safety programs on distracted driving, speed and aggression, impaired driving, drowsy driving, driver proficiency, pedestrian safety and a host of other safety issues. It distributes the programs free of charge to schools, police and traffic safety advocates, community groups and individuals. It also 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.
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