Mountain Vista High School Wins $2,000 for CDOT-sponsored Distracted Driving Contest
STATEWIDE— During the month of April, student-made videos from across the state poured in for the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) “Life in Slo Mo” contest, coinciding with Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Fountain-Fort Carson High School, South Park High School and Mountain Vista High School landed in the top three with Mountain Vista High School taking the win! The interactive contest aimed to raise awareness about distracted driving among one of the most vulnerable populations on the road today: teenagers.
According to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), young drivers report the highest level of phone involvement in crash or near-crash incidences. To combat the rising numbers of teen at-fault crashes, CDOT teamed up with local pop band Rachel and the Kings to launch the “Life in Slo Mo” video contest earlier this year. The contest incorporated the band’s hit song “Slo Mo,” which sends a message about slowing down and living life in the moment. Teens collaborated to write scripts, shoot scenes and edit footage to create 60-second videos illustrating the importance of living life free from distractions.
“We were so impressed by the quality of the submissions we received,” said Emily Wilfong, Communications Manager at CDOT. “The goal of the contest was to get students talking about the dangers of distracted driving, and that’s exactly what these videos accomplished.”
After selecting the top three finalists, CDOT opened a public vote via CDOT’s Facebook page. The posts received an overwhelming response, engaging high school students and adults across the state. In the end, the public chose Mountain Vista High School’s creatively crafted video that uses humor to resonate with its audience but still delivers a serious message. The winning video can be viewed here: http://vimeo.com/91449959.
Mountain Vista High School nabs the $2,000 grand prize and the participating students will join the stage with Rachel and the Kings at a benefit concert later this month in Denver. The winning video will also be showcased on stage at the show.
"We are so excited to share the stage with such enthusiastic young adults,” said Rachel James, lead singer of Rachel and the Kings. “We love the effort put in by all the students who submitted videos – what an encouragement to know that young people are thinking about not only what it means to not drive distracted, but what it means to live life in the moment.”
Representatives of CDOT will present a check to Mountain Vista High School’s participating students and their parents at the upcoming concert. More information about the event can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/737870449587098/.
For more information on Colorado teen driving safety and laws, please visit www.COteendriver.com or visit Keys2Drive (www.teendriving.aaa.com/CO/), a AAA website to help parents and teens throughout the learning-to-drive process.
