Teen Driver Safety Week is coming up next week, October 20-26.
To get teens thinking about safety on the roads, the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) is holding a contest. The winner will receive $2,000 and their very own TV commercial.
"We have about 37,000 people die on our roads every year across the county and young people are a big part of that number, unfortunately," said David Reich of the National Road Safety Foundation. "In California alone, almost 300 young people, 300 teens die every year on our roads and we need to stop that. That's why the National Road Safety Foundation is running this contest, 'Drive Safe LA.'"
Reich says traffic crashes are the #1 cause of death for people under 21.
For the contest, the NSRF is asking teens to submit their ideas for a 30-second TV ad about the dangers of drugged driving.
An Emmy Award-winning director will work with the winner at their school to turn their idea into reality. The finished ad will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November and air on more than 160 television stations across the country.
"Drugged driving is also not just illegal drugs but it can be things like prescription medicines or over-the-counter things like allergy remedies, cold medicine," Reich said. "It slows you down, it can make you drowsy and when you're driving, you've gotta be at the top of your game."
Teens between the ages of 13 and 19 are invited to enter.
All entries must be received by Oct. 25, 2019.
There are also prizes for the runner-up and the teacher or school adviser of the winner and runner-up.
To enter, visit http://www.nrsf.org/teenlane/content/drivesafela.
