CO$T Makes the Top 3!

We're DC bound....

by Eva McGill

November 17, 2008

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced the three top teams have been selected as finalists in a nationwide competition to develop a new ad campaign promoting teen safety awareness on America's rural roads. The winning campaign, to be announced on December 9, will be used nationwide as part of 2009's National Youth Traffic Safety Month.

"America's youngest drivers are also our most vulnerable,"
Secretary Peters said. "We think teens are more likely to get the message about safety and awareness when it comes from other teens."

            The top three finalists will be eligible for first, second and third place grants of $5,000, $2,000 and $1,000. Prize money can be used to support traffic safety activities or to provide scholarships to acknowledge student leadership in traffic safety programs.
Representatives from the top three teams will also travel to Washington, D.C. for a special award ceremony at the U. S. Department of Transportation.

            Entries from across the nation were received as part of the competition launched this spring, which challenged school and community-supported youth organizations to develop and implement traffic safety campaigns aimed at rural youth. The competition was hosted through NOYS as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Rural Safety Initiative, a program designed to reduce collisions, deaths and injuries on America's least travelled-but most dangerous roads.

            "Mile for mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers," said Deputy Secretary of Transportation Thomas Barrett, who also noted that in 2007, 3,174 teenage drivers were killed and nearly 252,000 were injured in crashes-the leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds.

The three finalists include:

Anoka High School SADD, Anoka, Minnesota

Anoka High School's Get the 411 on Teen Drivers! Stay Connected! Save Teen Lives! campaign focuses on graduated licensing and seatbelt laws.
The school hosted Teen Driver 411 week, during which they made presentations to four Driver's Education programs along with AAA. To learn more about their campaign, visit www.noys.org

Clifton Central High School, Clifton, IL

Clifton Central High School's Operation Safer Teens (CO$T) started their campaign by purchasing two speed limit signs for both entrances of their high school and middle school complex. To spread their message, the team hung banners at football games, sponsored a door decorating contest, and an artwork contest with the school's Art Club. CO$T has sponsored a Child Safety Seat check program, and has hosted an Alive at
25 Parent Program. To learn more about their campaign, visit www.noys.org

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School, Gibson City, IL

The campaign, titledLicense to Live, uses television and radio PSA's to urge seat belt use, bicycle and railroad safety in their community.
GCMS License to Live leader Eric Sommer also worked with local officials to raise awareness about dangerous intersections in their area, and has been successful in making helpful changes. To learn more about their campaign, visit www.noys.org

Please visit Youth Traffic Safety for more information about all of the top ten team projects.