The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is reaching out to local high school students, both public and private, to create a buzz about the perils of phone-related distractions on the road. The "Heads Up, Phones Down" contest is the platform offering students the chance to rack up to $800 in prizes along with up to five Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for their contributions, according to an announcement from Montgomery County.
Participants can submit 30-second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) until February 28. Videos should relay the significance of keeping focused on the surrounding environment rather than the captivating screens of their devices. Submissions must be uploaded as public videos on YouTube using the online entry form. Individual or group projects in English or Spanish are welcome, though a group can only consist of four students.
County Executive Marc Elrich highlighted the grave risks of distracted driving and walking. "Young people are among the most vulnerable on our roads, but they also have the power to change the culture around phone use," Elrich said in a statement published on Montgomery County’s website. He sees the contest as a way for youth to push a life-preserving message to their peers. Prizes add a cherry on top, with individual winners potentially walking away with tech swag like an Apple Mac Book Air, whereas winning groups will divide cash prizes.
