California Casualty
Mark Goldberg, 719.532.8436
mgoldberg@calcas.com
Impact Teen Drivers
Kelly Browning, Ph.D., 916.733.7432
kbrowning@impactteendrivers.org
Student Safe Driving Contest Saves Lives and Pays Off
San Mateo, CA, October 31, 2019 – Driving safely shouldn’t be scary. This Halloween, messages to prevent distracted driving are paying off for students across the country, in the 2019 Fall Create Real Impact contest from Impact Teen Drivers and California Casualty. A total of $12,000 is being awarded for artistic efforts to educate others about the dangers of distractions behind the wheel. The awards were announced in conjunction with National Teen Driver Safety Week, a reminder to all, especially young drivers, to keep hands on the wheel, eyes on the road and the mind focused on the drive.
The following students were chosen for $1,500 grand prize educational grants:
- Brad Kendrick, Logan, UT, in the video category for “Drive Safe Mate!”
- Everen Graves, San Diego, CA, in the music category for the song “For You and I”
- Lilly Millard, Hockessin, DE, in the writing category for the prose “A Great Multitasker”
- Kendal Johnson, Cumberland, MD, in the art category for the poster “The Get Settled Campaign”
The schools with the most entries were Village Academy High School in Pomona, California; Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington, DE; and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami, FL. Each school is being awarded $1,000.
Five hundred dollar awards for the most online votes are going to: Montana Schrader, Allendale, MI, for the poem, “No Worries;” Yoosung Jung, Yorba Linda, CA, for the video, “Alternative Reality;” Helen Dang, Pomona, CA, for the poster, “Distractions Are Deadly; and Katie Panyanouvong, Fremont, CA, for the song, “At the Stoplight,” written about a friend who died from a reckless driver.
The Create Real Impact Contest challenges students ages 14-22 to make a difference in the battle to stop unnecessary crashes, the number one killer of teens in the United States. Students across the nation entered creative works showcasing solutions to reckless and distracted driving at www.createrealimpact.com.
The equation is simple: teen drivers are more likely to be involved in a deadly crash caused by texting, interacting with passengers or just not paying attention behind the wheel, but they are the best messengers to their peers about the dangers of inattentive driving.
The Create Real Impact contest was initiated in 2009 as a proactive solution to the deadly epidemic of inattentive driving by teens. Research shows distraction is a key factor in almost 60 percent of crashes involving drivers ages 16 to 19. Empowering messages convincing other teens to adopt safer driving attitudes and avoid the tragic result of bad choices behind the wheel can save lives.
“I have confidence teens can change the culture of driving to one that is distraction free – much like earlier generations did with seat belts,” said Kelly Browning, Ph.D., Executive Director, Impact Teen Drivers. “The Create Real Impact Contest provides an opportunity for teens to lead the conversation by getting involved and stopping the number one killer of people their age.”
“We continue to support this important initiative because it saves lives,” said California Casualty Chairman of the Board, Beau Brown, who is also a member of the Impact Teen Drivers Board of Directors.
The winning entries can be viewed at www.createrealimpact.com.
Impact Teen Drivers has reached more than two million teens since 2007 and the Create Real Impact contest began in 2009. California Casualty is a founding partner of the nonprofit and continues to provide support for the contest. California Casualty representatives will help present checks to the winning schools and awardees.
Students can get started now for the 2020 Spring Create Real Impact Contest, which will begin in January. For more information on how to get schools and students involved, please contact info@impactteendrivers.org.
Headquartered in San Mateo, California, with Service Centers in Arizona, Colorado and Kansas, California Casualty provides auto and home insurance to educators, firefighters, law enforcement and nurses across the country. Founded in 1914, California Casualty has been led by four generations of the Brown family. To learn more about California Casualty, or to request an auto insurance quote, please visit www.calcas.com or call 1.800.800.9410.
