NEWS RELEASE: April 10, 2008
FROM: The Kansas Highway Patrol
CONTACT: TechTRP Edna Buttler, KHP, (785)296-6800
Cait Purinton-Day, KHP, (785) 296-6800
Phyllis Marotta, KDOT, (785) 296-7416
Call for Entries: Youth Traffic Safety Month Scholarship Contest
Contest Encourages Teens to Produce Results
When youth are given the privilege to drive, they are handed the keys to their safety and the safety of those who ride with them and share the road with them. To encourage teen drivers to talk to each other about the importance of traffic safety, the Kansas Highway Patrol and Kansas Department of Transportation have formed a new scholarship contest to promote Youth Traffic Safety Month in May.
"Spring is an exciting time for youth. It's prom and graduation season, the school year is coming to an end, and summer is just around the corner," said Pete Bodyk, Chief of KDOT's Bureau of Traffic Safety. "While thinking about their summer plans, we also want youth to think about how they can improve their driving habits and those of their peers."
Three $500 scholarships will be awarded to Kansas students currently enrolled in grades 9 through 12. One scholarship will be awarded in each of the following categories: (1) a 30-second public service announcement for radio; (2) a 30-second public service announcement for television; or (3) an 11 X 17 poster. Entries must address at least one of the following topics: seat belts, drinking and driving, reckless and distracted driving, motorcycle safety, and/or speeding. Entries must be postmarked no later than May 30, 2008. Full contest rules, entry forms, and posters are available online at www.kansashighwaypatrol.org.
"Safety is not an accident; youth can take specific actions to be safer drivers and passengers," said Highway Patrol Superintendent Colonel Terry Maple. "This contest is an excellent opportunity for youth to think about steps they can take to become responsible drivers."
The contest is being held in coordination with the second annual National Youth Traffic Safety Month, sponsored by the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS).