Winner of Third Annual Drive Safe Chicago PSA Contest Named at 2017 Chicago Auto Show
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
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
WINNER OF THIRD ANNUAL DRIVE SAFE CHICAGO PSA CONTEST NAMED AT 2017 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW MEDIA PREVIEW
CHICAGO (Feb. 10, 2017) - Hannah Christy, 17, a junior at Porter County Career Center in Valparaiso, Indiana was named the winner of the third annual 2017 Drive Safe Chicago PSA Contest. She accepted the award and a $2,000 prize from The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show Media Preview.
The contest, hosted by the Chicago Auto Show and The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes safe driving, challenged area students to create original public service announcements designed to grow awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.
The winning PSA, written and produced by Christy, debuted during the Chicago Auto Show Media Preview and will air later this year on more than 220 television stations across the country. Her script, which addressed the dangers of drowsy driving, depicted a teenager who was awake late studying only to miss a stop sign while driving drowsy to school the next morning. Next, a black screen appears with a crashing sound, and the words, "Driving Drowsy can be a Nightmare" flash on the screen.
The full PSA can be viewed here.
Christy and two other finalists, Payton Ball and Mackenzie Taulbee, were selected from nearly 70 entries across Chicagoland. Each finalist worked with an Emmy Award-winning producer and crew from nationally syndicated TV show Teen Kids News to transform their PSA scripts into 30-second TV spots.
Voting took place over the past several weeks on the Chicago Auto Show Facebook page, where 727 votes were cast in favor of Christy's script. Taulbee, who came in second place, was awarded a $1,000 prize.
"We are happy that so many young people have used their creativity to help educate their peers about the risks of distracted driving," said David Reich of the NRSF. "Hannah's spot highlights drowsy driving, which is an aspect of distraction that doesn't get as much attention as texting and cell phones. Drowsiness is a factor in an estimated one-third of fatal traffic crashes."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates more than 3,300 people are killed every year due to distracted driving, and tens of thousands more are injured. Education aimed at conveying where distracted driving dangers exist - from cell phone use to over-crowded vehicles or eating while driving - is a critical first step toward reducing distracted driving-related deaths.
"Distracted driving is a serious risk that needs to be addressed at all levels," said Mike McGrath, 2017 Chicago Auto Show chairman. "While today's cars are safer than ever, with many innovations that help avoid crashes and protect occupants in the event of one, driver inattention continues to be a major factor in crashes. We think all the Drive Safe Chicago finalists have done an excellent job communicating the message that distracted driving is dangerous driving."
Christy joins an elite group of former winners, including Abigail Evans, who took home the grand prize in 2016 when she was a senior at Washington Township High School in Indiana.
For more information about distracted driving and the Drive Safe Chicago Contest, please visit www.nrsf.org/teenlane/content/drive-safe-chicago. To watch complete coverage of the 2017 Chicago Auto Show Media Preview press conferences and events, please visit www.Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow. For more information about the 2017 Chicago Auto Show, please visit www.chicagoautoshow.com.
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About the Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America, spanning more than 1 million square feet of production, concept, and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raises more than $2.5 million annually for 18 vital Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2017 public show will be Feb. 11-20. For more information, visit www.chicagoautoshow.com or www.Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.
About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is one of the nation's largest metropolitan dealer organizations. It is comprised of more than 420 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 20,000 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.
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 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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