Vote daily for your favorite “Restrain Yourself” public service announcement
AMES, Iowa – March 27, 2009 – Now it’s your turn. For the past school year, Iowa high school movie and audio producers have been working on public service announcements (PSAs) to convince their peers to “restrain yourself” from unsafe driving behaviors, including distracted driving, impaired driving, not wearing seat belts, and not paying attention in work zones.
Of the entries submitted, 14 videos and six audio student-produced PSAs were chosen to be posted at www.thinkfirstiowa.org for the public to choose a favorite. Voting is open to anyone with a valid E-mail address, allowing for one vote per E-mail address per day.
Voting will be open Friday, March 27, to Monday, April 6. The voters’ favorite video will be aired on the finale of American Idol May 10 on KDSM Fox 17. The winning audio entry will be played on all 61 Radio Iowa network stations throughout the state. In addition to the air time, the winning producers will receive a cash award.
Sponsors for the highway safety program are the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), KDSM Fox 17, Iowa Traffic Safety Alliance, AAA Iowa/Minnesota, Iowa Health Systems, and Radio Iowa.
Driving or riding in a motor vehicle is the most dangerous activity for teens. In Iowa, teens (ages 14-19) have a higher fatality rate in motor vehicle crashes than any other age group. Nationally, motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for teens. “Our goal with this program is simple,” said Nancy Richardson, director of the Iowa DOT. “It is to make teen drivers better, safer drivers because, as our safety motto says, ‘One Death is One Too Many.’”
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Contact: Tracey Bramble at 515-239-1314 or tracey.bramble@dot.iowa.gov