Are You InTEXTicated?

Illinois Teens 5th Annual Public Service Campaign

"Are You InTEXTicated?" 2024 Campaign

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, in 2021, distracted driving accounted for nearly 10,600 crashes in Illinois. And 6 percent of those killed nationwide in distracted-affected crashes were teens 15 to 19 years old.

New research released in 2023 by the AAA Foundation of Traffic Safety finds that even though approximately 93 percent of drivers agree that texting or emailing while driving is a serious problem and a threat to their safety, 38 percent admit to having read a text or email while driving in the last month, and 27 percent admit to having typed one.

Crash numbers have dropped over the past 20 years, but teens continue to have the highest crash rate of any age group in the country. A number of factors contribute to this, but distractions play a heavier role than anything else.

The sobering message makes it clear that the consequences of both impaired driving and texting while driving are the same – deaths and injuries.

A component of the campaign will focus on the use of an electronic device while driving and passenger safety. A traffic safety award will be given to a local Illinois high school, high school student(s), or community group whose 30-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) video creates the greatest social impact.

As part of this PSA, student groups should highlight traffic safety research that studied the cause of distracted driver crashes, highlighting teen driver distractions. According to research, the most common forms of distraction leading up to a crash by a teen driver include:

Interacting with passengers: 15 percent of crashes
Cell phone use: 12 percent of crashes
Looking at something in the vehicle: 10 percent of crashes
Looking at something outside of the vehicle: 9 percent of crashes
Grooming: 6 percent of crashes
Reaching for an object: 6 percent of crashes

Campaign Guidelines

Required Criteria to Participate

Open to all high school students (Freshman through Senior)
Video should be no more than 30 seconds in viewing length and submiced as an MP4
Only original or royalty-free music can be used
When filming in the car
- Seat belts must be worn
- Car must be safely parked
  - Filming cannot occur in vehicle driving down the road
  - Videos with cars in motion will not be considered

Messaging in Video (*required)

*Influences in your driving choices
- Parents
- Peers o Celebrities
- Social Media
- Television/Music
- Etc.
Passengers are the number one distraction for teen drivers
Drivers are all distracted for 27 seconds after they put their phones down
*Speak up, say something for your safety
Utilize or create your own campaign hashtags: #inTEXTicated #aaimtosavelives #dontdrivedistracted …etc
Any information provided to you in this letter
Additional resources for messaging can be found on AAIM’s website (www.aaim1.org) under the InTEXTicated tab Video will be uploaded and shared across social media platforms including the use of hashtags.
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Twitter
- YouTube
You are encouraged to include your school logo, and you may also use the AAIM logo
The completed Model Photograph Release Form must be signed by a guardian for everyone par@cipa@ng in the project. The release form must be mailed with your video submission to PSAcontest@aaim1.org
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: The final video must have a group name and be emailed to PSAcontest@aaim1.org no later than noon on Monday, March 25, 2024
There is no limit on the number of videos per school/group that can be submiced

Can not be used or seen in the video

Clothing containing any logos or words of the brand or company
Illicit drug use, smoking, or vaping
Nudity
Foul language

Judging Criteria

Most Creative
Social Media impact
Required messages are contained in the video
All of the required criteria outlined in these guidelines are met

The top five PSA videos will be determined by campaign commicee members. The five finalist videos will be uploaded to AAIM’s website, AAIM’s social media, and at aaimpreventionandeducation.org to be judged by your peers. Voting will run from April 1 – April 21, 2024.

The first-place winning group will receive $750.00, second place will receive $250.00, and third place will receive $100.00. The winning videos will be announced on AAIM’s social media, displayed on AAIM’s website, and featured in AAIM’s newslecer.

The video that receives the most votes by 11:59 pm on April 21, 2024 will win! Each person can vote once per day. Share the link with your friends and family and don't forget to SHARE the InTEXTicated message!

PSA VIDEO SUBMISSION

Are You InTEXTicated?

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