Driving the Message: Empowering Youth Voices for Safer Roads
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI) Youth Transportation Safety (YTS) Program is proud to celebrate a powerful new chapter in its mission to engage young drivers. For the first time the Driving the Message video and poster contest was sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF).
This year’s contest inspired students nationwide to use their creativity to promote safe driving behaviors. With the video theme “Share the Road,” teens were challenged to think critically about how drivers, cyclists and pedestrians can coexist safely. The response was overwhelming: 99 seat belt posters, 82 speed-related posters and 15 original videos were submitted, each one a testament to the passion and insight of today’s youth.
The top prize — a $1,500 award and the opportunity to have their video professionally produced — went to Loganville High School in Georgia for their entry, “The Road is Ours.” Now a polished public service announcement, their message is being shared across the country to raise awareness and inspire change. Loganville High is part of the Teens in the Driver Seat® (TDS) program, which has a strong presence in Georgia with over 103 participating junior high and high schools this school year.
In total, $6,500 in awards were distributed to students whose work stood out for its creativity, clarity and impact.
While the Driving the Message contest is a highlight, it represents just one facet of a growing and impactful partnership between YTS and NRSF. Together, the two organizations are committed to empowering youth through education, leadership and advocacy. This collaboration supports the TDS Teen Advisory Board, a group of student leaders who help shape peer-to-peer traffic safety outreach and ensure that youth voices are at the forefront of the conversation.
“NRSF’s support has increased our ability to engage students in meaningful, creative ways,” said Lisa Minjares-Kyle, YTS program manager. “Their commitment to supporting our various youth-led safety initiatives is enhancing our mission to build cultures of safety and leadership among youth across the nation.”
As this partnership continues to grow, so does its impact. With each contest, campaign and collaboration, YTS and NRSF are working together to create safer roads and stronger communities — led by the very teens they aim to protect.
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About Teens in the Driver Seat®:
Teens in the Driver Seat® program, a YTS initiative, is tackling teen car crashes by offering practical solutions to over 1.2 million teens across more than 2,200 schools. As the first peer-to-peer program for teens focused solely on traffic safety that addresses all major risks for this age group, TDS empowers young drivers to influence their peers on safe driving practices. TDS is a recognized peer-to-peer teen traffic safety program by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Thanks to funding from multiple sponsors, program resources and technical support are available at no cost to schools. | https://t-driver.com
The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that for more than 60 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 grassroots 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 information or to download free programs, visit www.nrsf.org.
