Ohio Turnpike involves teenagers in communicating the dangers of distracted driving
The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission has announced the winners of its inaugural Ohio Turnpike W82TXT video contest, an initiative to engage teens in the messaging around the dangers of distracted driving. Taking home the Grand Prize is Loveland High School (LHS) Senior Sam Richardson, whose animated short video “#W82TXTY” encourages you to put your phone down and out of reach when getting in the car.
Taking home the Grand Prize is Loveland High School (LHS) Senior Sam Richardson, whose animated short video “#W82TXTY” encourages you to put your phone down and out of reach when getting in the car.
“I can’t remember the number of times I have been in a car with a teenager or adult who was on their phone while driving and I had to tell them to put it down,” said Richardson. “By entering this video contest, I wanted to spread a meaningful message about the consequences of texting and driving.”
Richardson, who started making videos and animation in eighth grade, is currently doing a virtual reality independent study at LHS, allowing him to learn various techniques on his own while earning high school credits. W82TXT is the fifth video contest he has entered – and the second that he has won. In 2016, he won second place in the Ohio Attorney General’s “Take Action” video contest to raise awareness about important consumer decisions that students will make. (Read:
In 2017, Sam Richardson (second from left) placed second and won a $1,500 scholarship for the video he created about cybersecurity and privacy. (Read the story)
After graduating from LHS next spring, Richardson plans to study toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts at a college in Ohio. “After earning my college degree, I hope to work for an animation studio like DreamWorks, Pixar or Disney in Los Angeles,” he said.
Prizes for the three top winners include their choice of a DJI Osmo video camera, GoPro video camera, Apple iPad, or a $250 Amazon Gift Card. The winners will choose their prize in the order in which their video placed. The Grand Prize Winner will also select a booster club at their High School to receive a $500 donation.
About the W82TXT video contest
The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission video contest coincides with what has become known as the “100 Deadliest Days” on the roads between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that new teen drivers, ages 16-17, are three times more likely than adults to be involved in a deadly crash during the summer months. By engaging teens during this critical time, they help raise awareness and influence peers to make safe choices behind the wheel. The Commission plans to hold a second contest in 2019. For more information, visit www.ohioturnpike.org/.
