NJM Insurance Group Announces Fifth Annual “Just Drive” PSA Contest Winners
April 28, 2023Annual contest recognizes the importance of Distracted Driving Awareness Month
WEST TRENTON, NJ — NJM Insurance Group (NJM), in partnership with the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey (BIANJ) and Impact Teen Driver (ITD), is awarding a total of $60,000 to the winning New Jersey and Pennsylvania high schools of the fifth annual “Just Drive” public service announcement (PSA) video contest.
Students representing 92 high schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania created 30-second video PSAs highlighting the dangers of distracted driving. Over 1,600 students also registered to take the “Just Drive” pledge, a campaign to help put an end to distracted driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car crashes are a leading cause of preventable deaths for teens in the United States.
The three winning New Jersey schools are:
First Place: Lenape Regional School District (Medford, NJ) won $15,000. Their PSA, “Winning Drive," highlighted best practices to avoid distractions while driving including, turning down the radio volume, wearing a seatbelt, not eating, and using the cell phone “do not disturb” mode.
Second Place: Delaware Valley Regional High School (Frenchtown, NJ) won $10,000. Their PSA, “Get There Alive, Just Drive,” emphasized New Jersey’s Graduated Licensing Laws (GDL) such as passenger restrictions, cell phone usage, and driving restrictions after 11:01 p.m.
Third Place: South Plainfield High School (Plainfield, NJ) won $5,000. Their PSA, “Inside-Out, Trust Your Instincts,” presented the components of a safe driving checklist including checking warning lights, putting away cell phones, wearing seat belts, awareness of weather conditions, and adhering to speed limits.
The three winning Pennsylvania schools are:
First Place: Canon-McMillan High School (Canonsburg, PA) won $15,000. Their PSA, “Just Drive,” cautions against risky driving behavior such as cell phone usage and speeding.
Second Place: Fox Chapel Area High School (Pittsburgh, PA) won $10,000. Their PSA, “Driver’s Test,” encourages drivers to exercise the same responsible behavior they used to pass their driving test.
Third Place: Berks Career and Technology Center Just Drive (Leesport, PA) won $5,000. Their PSA, “Game Begin,” highlighted important safety steps to take before driving including adjusting car mirrors, fastening seat belts, and storing cell phones.
The Just Drive competition presents a creative opportunity for teens to promote safe driving practices. The winning schools will put their prize money towards a post-prom, post-graduation, or safe driving program.
“Our partners at the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey and Impact Teen Drivers inspire students to promote a culture of safety within their schools," said Erica Rosso, NJM Consumer Safety Partnership and Program Supervisor. "Year over year this contest amplifies the power of teen voices. Their collaborative work to raise awareness and end distracted driving gives us promise that safer roads are achievable.”
NJM announced the winners in special virtual showcases on Facebook and Instagram on April 26 and April 27, 2023. The news was also shared on TikTok. During the virtual presentation, participants viewed the winning NJ and PA submissions.
“We are so proud of the time and energy New Jersey high school students have devoted toward developing safe driving messaging,” said Wendy Berk, vice president at the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey. "NJM consistently supports our Annual U Got Brains Champion Schools Program. We are grateful for their leadership and advocacy in teen driver safety and honored to once again collaborate on the “Just Drive” PSA Contest.”
“The creative approaches students take in developing safe driving messages reminds us that teens are one of our greatest ambassadors in engaging, educating, and empowering others,” said Kelly Browning, Ph.D., executive director of Impact Teen Drivers. “We’re delighted to broaden our relationship with NJM and continue to work together educating Pennsylvania teens on the importance of safe driving.”
About NJM Insurance Group
Founded in 1913, NJM is among the Mid-Atlantic region's leading property and casualty insurers. One of the Company’s core values is to support the communities it's privileged to serve, a value exercised through year-round employee volunteer efforts at local nonprofits and a formal corporate giving program. NJM operates in a mutual fashion for the exclusive benefit of its policyholders and is consistently recognized for its award-winning customer service, superior claims handling, and overall customer satisfaction. NJM’s personal insurance products are available direct to consumers in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The Company also works with a preferred network of independent agents to deliver business insurance in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Visit njm.com to learn more.
About NJM’s Teen Driver Safety Program
NJM’s Teen Driver Safety Programs are offered at no cost to high schools in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. NJM’s research-based programs empower parents and teens with the information and resources they need to build safe driving skills. The Programs have reached more than 1.2 million parents and teens since their launch in 2013 and have been repeatedly recognized by the National Safety Council. For more information about NJM’s Teen Driver Safety Programs, or to schedule a program in your area please visit njm.com/teen-driver-safety.