Montgomery Village News Articles
Montgomery County launches annual “Heads Up, Phones Down” video contest for teens
Montgomery County public and private high school students are invited to create short videos encouraging their peers to focus on their surroundings instead of their phones. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is hosting its annual “Heads Up, Phones Down” contest, and will be accepting entries of 30-second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) through Saturday, Feb. 28. The goal is to promote safe behaviors – putting down the phone and focusing on the road.
About the Video Contest
Students may produce videos in English or Spanish, either individually or in groups of up to four. Videos must be shared via YouTube as a public video and submitted on the MCDOT online entry form.
Participants can win prizes worth up to $800 and up to five Student Service Learning (SSL) hours. Winning videos will be featured on MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School website on Monday, March 16.
Individual Prizes
- Grand Prize – MacBook Air
- 1st Runner Up – Apple Watch
- 2nd Runner Up – Tripod for Mobile Phone
Group Prizes
- Grand Prize – $800 in Visa Gift Cards
- 2nd Place – $400 in Visa Gift Cards
- 3rd Place – $200 in Visa Gift Cards
Importance of Focusing on the Road
County Executive Marc Elrich emphasized the importance of the campaign, noting that “Texting while driving and walking continue to cost lives.”
MCDOT Director Chris Conklin added that, “According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), texting while driving can increase a teen’s risk of crashing by 23 times.” He believes, “‘Heads Up, Phones Down’ can have a real impact on teen behavior by encouraging students to speak up about distracted and unsafe driving.”
Check out last year’s winning videos on MCDOT’s website.
Visit the contest website for more information.
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