Stillwater Student Wins DPS Distracted Driving Video Challenge

Alex Emmons will have some spending cash in his pocket when he sits back to watch his distracted driving public service announcement on MTV.

For a second year, teenage students from Stillwater Area High School won the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS)–AAA "Don’t Drive Distracted, Teens!" TV Commercial Challenge.

Check out Emmons' winning spot, “Football,” which features a texting football player crushed by the opposing team . Other finalists can also be viewed at http://www.rockthebelt.org/, click on the "Don’t Drive Distracted,Teens!" link.

Emmons’ video received 2,913 (38 percent) of the total 7,632 votes during the two-week voting period that started May 10. He will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize from AAA, and DPS will air the spot statewide during the MTV Video Music Awards, Aug. 28.

Last year, another group of Stillwater teens won for their spot, “Moms Alcohol and Texting”  

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers due to inexperience, seat belt non-use, distractions and risk-taking behind the wheel, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. In the last five years, 192 teens were killed in crashes.

Stillwater Patch will have more on this story soon.

DPS Tips on Distracted Driving
DPS officials say now is a smart time for parents to re-engage with their teens’ driving — before summer, historically the deadliest season on state roads.  Officials say parents should set rules and limitations for teen drivers, and establish limits on nighttime driving and number of passengers. Parents should also reinforce traffic laws — such as the primary seat belt law; ban on texting/web access/electronic communication; and ban on cell phone use for drivers under age 18.

DPS offers a teen-parent driver contract and driver skills checklist at www.dps.state.mn.us/ots; click on “Teen Driving.”

To-date in Minnesota in 2011, there has been 102 traffic deaths, compared to 133 at this time in 2010.