THREE TEEN FINALISTS NAMED IN DRIVE SAFE CHICAGO VIDEO CONTEST; PUBLIC TO PICK WINNER VIA SHOW’S FACEBOOK PAGE
The three finalists have now been selected for the sixth annual Drive Safe Chicago teen public service announcement challenge. Dozens of entries submitted by teens from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin all included ideas for a 30-second PSA about the dangers of drunken driving. The contest is hosted by The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) – a nonprofit group that promotes safe driving behavior – in conjunction with the Chicago Auto Show.
The three finalists are Logan Ozdyck, 18, Ethan Fragoso, 18, and Maya Vickrey, 17. All live in Valparaiso, Indiana, and attend the Porter County Career Center.
“We thank the three students who are finalists in the Drive Safe Chicago challenge for their compelling scripts that we hope will remind all drivers of the dangers of drinking and driving,” said Michelle Anderson, director of operations for the NRSF. “We also commend their teacher Bob Phelps for his guidance and inspiration, this year and in the past.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates more than 10,500 people were killed last year due to alcohol impairment, accounting for 29 percent of total traffic fatalities. In Illinois last year, 309 people died in alcohol-related crashes, representing 30 percent of the state total.
“Today’s new cars are safer than ever, with many features and technology to avoid crashes and keep occupants safe in the event of a crash,” said Tony Guido, 2020 Chicago Auto Show chairman. “However, ultimately, drivers must be responsible to make the right decision when it comes to drinking and driving. That’s the important message we hope will be conveyed through these teens’ public service announcements.”
An Emmy Award-winning director will come to the students’ school to help develop their ideas into finished TV spots. Beginning Monday, Feb. 3, the teen finalists’ videos will be posted to a video gallery on the Chicago Auto Show’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow) and the public will be encouraged to cast their vote for their favorite PSA. The winner will be announced at the show’s Family Day, the final day of the show, on Monday, Feb. 17, and will receive a $2,000 prize. In addition, the PSA will air on the nationally syndicated TV show “Teen Kids News” on more than 160 TV stations nationwide. The first runner-up will receive $1,000 and the second runner-up gets $500.
For more information on the NRSF, visit www.nrsf.org.
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