Contest: "Driving the Message" Contest with Teens in the Driver Seat

Annual Driving the Message Contest

The judges reserve the right to limit awards in any category.

General Rules and Regulations! 

• Entries must be postmarked or email time-stamped no later than January 24, 2020 to be eligible for the Driving the Message contest.
• Entry is open to high school and junior high students in the United States.
• Entries must address the issue of driving safety by focusing on one of the following risks teens face behind the wheel or as a young passenger – nighttime/drowsy driving, speeding, distractions, seat belts, impaired driving, pedestrian/bike safety, and/or driving dangerously around large trucks and rail roads.
• Entries that display a dangerous or illegal activity will be disqualified, i.e. a video showing teens driving on a street while texting or not wearing a seat belt. Closed courses, with appropriate safety precautions are allowed – closed parking lots, private land with no traffic, being in a vehicle, while parked. Be safe, be smart.
• Entries submitted with evidence of illegal use of copyrighted material will not be considered for judging. The use of company logos and other product names (for cars, beverages, etc.) is also prohibited.
• You may submit more than one entry.
• Each student who submits an entry (poster) must submit an Entry Form. If you are part of a group/class submission, each student involved must have an entry form. Complete, signed entry forms must accompany entries.
• All person(s) whose photo appears in a poster entry must complete a video/photo release form. Complete, signed video/photo release forms must accompany entry.
• Software or online programs may be used to assemble/edit your entry, however, at least 90% of your entry must be generated by your own creativity and concept.
• Judging will be based upon originality, creativity, and by how well you follow the messages that are central to the Teens in the Driver Seat® program.
• Entry must follow specs listed below.
• Awards will be given, payable to the school the student attends, in all categories.
  • First Place Poster – $1,000
  • Second Place Poster – $500
  • Third Place Poster – $250
  • First Place Video – $1,000
  • Second Place Video – $500
  • Third Place Video – $250
• All entries become property of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and all or part of your entry can be used to advance and support the Teens in the Driver Seat Program or the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
• The Texas A&M Transportation Institute is not responsible for lost, damaged, misdirected or delayed entries.
• The Texas A&M Transportation Institute reserves the right to withdraw, terminate, suspend, cancel or modify all or part of the contest at any time without notice.
• Teens in the Driver Seat® reserves the right to change any of these rules and/or prizes.
• All decisions are final.

POSTER SPECS

• Your poster can be any size, up to 11-by-17 inches.
• The poster must address the issue of traffic safety by focusing on one or more of the following topics – nighttime/drowsy driving, speeding, distractions, seat belts, impaired driving, pedestrian/bike safety, driving/walking safely around rail roads, and/or driving dangerously around large trucks.
• Poster should not include any copyrighted material (such as copyrighted images, photos or characters).
• Poster graphics should be original work. Posters that include downloaded, copied, or printed graphics from other sources will be disqualified.
• Posters must be submitted electronically, in PDF or JPG format.
• Emailed posters may be up to 5Mb, in PDF or JPG format, and must be ready to print.
  All entry forms and release forms must be emailed with poster file.
• Mailed poster files may be larger in file size but must still be in PDF or JPG format and ready to print. No mailed printed posters will be accepted.
• Hand-drawn posters must be scanned and submitted electronically by email or mail, in PDF or JPG format, and ready to print.  No mailed posters will be accepted.
• Posters will be printed, in color, for judging on 11×17 paper, at the largest. Teens in the Driver Seat is not responsible for quality of print. Electronic files will be printed as is.
• Winners in poster category will be required to provide original, high resolution electronic source files (300 dpi), with layers and fonts. We can accept Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign files. These files may be submitted with entry, if desired, but are not required with submission.
• Winning posters will be published for printing on 11-by-17 inch and smaller formats.

VIDEO SPECS

• Develop a video message that is 30-60 seconds long. Sponsor logos will be added by TTI to winning videos before final release. Do not add logos to your entry.
• The video must address the issue of driving safety by focusing on one or more of the top five risks teens face behind the wheel or as a young passenger – nighttime/drowsy driving, speeding, distractions, seat belts, and/or impaired driving.
• The video should be designed to be aired primarily on television.
• Do not place scrolls, credits, or additional information within the final video.
• Do not include any copyrighted material (such as copyrighted music, video clips, or copyrighted logos and brands).
• High quality formats are preferred, .avi, .mov, .mp4, HEVC, MPEG-4 and similar formats are all accepted.
• Additional specs, 852 x 480, 1280 x 720, 1920 x 1080, 192kpbs MPEG audio, 29fps and 1640kbps video is ideal.
• Video entries should be uploaded via Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/request/ufwqri1O2bs2fzO7xYEu
• Electronic submission is preferred but you can submit your video on a DVD, CD, or flash drive to the address given below. Do not email video files.
• Please review final entry for video and sound quality before entry.
• Winners in the video category must provide original video source files. These files may be sent with entry.

Tips and Information!

• Keep the message focus about teens and for teens. Always think about your end audience. We need your voice to spread the message about safe driving.
• Prize money is payable to entrant’s school, not the individual(s).
• Please review poster and video specs above before submitting entry.
• Submit entries in highest quality possible. Begin with high quality to end with high quality. This means low-quality phone pictures and video are not the best material to start with.
• Gruesome or gory entries do not fare well in judging and are not encouraged. Think positive safety messaging.
• Winning posters will be available for downloading and sharing. Please keep this in mind when creating.
• For more information on copyright, go to http://www.copyright.com/learn/about-copyright/
• Send all questions to Gracie Martinez at [email protected]. Type CONTEST in the subject line. Do not use this email for entry submission. Please allow 3 days for reply.

How to Submit!

• Entries must be accompanied with an entry form from individual or each person, if a group entry.
• Posters may be mailed on DVD, CD, or flash drive or emailed to [email protected], subject line CONTEST.

• Video entries can be uploaded via Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/request/ufwqri1O2bs2fzO7xYEu or on a DVD, CD, or flash drive to the address given below.

• Emails and mailed entries must be date-stamped no later than January 24, 2020.
• All entries from a school may be mailed together. Please make sure forms are clearly marked with corresponding entries.
• Mail entries to this address:

Teens in the Driver Seat
Driving the Message Contest
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
1100 NW Loop 410
Suite 605
San Antonio, TX 78213

POSTER ENTRY CHECKLIST

• Poster file in PDF or JPG format.
• Entry form with signature. If poster is a group entry, each person must complete an entry form.
• Signed video/photo release form for all persons who appear on poster, if applicable.
• Packaging post-marked or email time-stamped no later than January 24, 2020.
• All emailed poster entries must include scanned copies of entry forms and photo/video release forms within email.
• If entries from a school are mailed together, please make sure forms are clearly marked with corresponding entries.

What Happens After You Enter?

• Once the contest has closed, judging is completed by a panel of program sponsors, who independently review each entry. No school or student names are displayed with the entry.
• Judging is based on originality, creativity, and how well the safety message is portrayed.
• If your entry wins a place, you and your teacher will be contacted immediately after judging.
• Your school will need to submit paperwork (sent via email upon notification of winning) as soon as possible to claim prizes.
• Winners will be asked to submit original source files, if they were not submitted upon entry, as soon as possible.