Although distracted driving has becomie a nationwide problem, Pennsylvania officials are eliciting the help of high school students in a campaign to keep driver focus on the road.
The PennDOT Radio Safety Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest gives high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors the opportunity to create a 30-second radio PSA aimed at discouraging distracted driving. The winner will have his or her announcement professionally produced and sent to the student’s local media market.
According to PennDOT, there were 14,294 auto accidents involving drivers who were distracted or were using a hand-held cellphone in 2010. Nearly 37 percent of those accidents involved a driver who was between the ages of 16 and 25.
One finalist will be chosen from each of PennDot’s 11 engineering districts. The winning students will go to Harrisburg to have the PSA professionally recorded.