High School Teens In Edison Win $5,000 For Distracted Driving Video

EDISON, NJ — Students from JP Stevens High School, Edison created a video on the dangers of distracted driving, that won third place in a competition held by NJM Insurance Group.

The teens won $5,000 for their video, “NJM Hit That Break Just Drive.” The video highlights five steps that lead to safe driving.

The annual contest recognizes the importance of Distracted Driving Awareness Month and was held in partnership the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey (BIANJ) and the Pennsylvania DUI Association (PA DUI).

A total of $60,000 was given to the winning New Jersey and Pennsylvania high schools. Students from 71 high schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania created 30-second video PSAs highlighting the dangers of distracted driving.

Over 12,000 students also registered to “Take the Just Drive Pledge,” a campaign to help put an end to distracted driving.

"Our partners at BIANJ and PADUI do a great job engaging students in creating a culture of safety within their schools," Violet Marrero, NJM's consumer safety director said in a statement. "This contest serves as a reminder each year that teens are our greatest ambassadors. Their collaborative work to raise awareness and end distracted driving gives us promise that safer roads are achievable."

The winners were announced in special virtual showcases on Facebook and Instagram on April 20 and April 21. The news was also shared on TikTok.

"The peer-to-peer engagement among our New Jersey high school students has been tremendous, and we are proud of the time they’ve invested toward safe driving messaging," Wendy Berk, vice president at BIANJ, said in a statement.

The three winning New Jersey schools are:

• First Place: Lenape High School District (Medford, NJ) won $15,000. Their PSA, "The Adventures of Just Drive Man," highlighted examples of common distractions such as eating, talking to passengers, and looking down at the phone.

• Second Place: Matawan Regional High School (Aberdeen Twp., NJ) won $10,000. Their PSA, "It’s Up to You, Just Drive," identified common examples of distracted driving and emphasized that driving safely is a choice.

• Third Place: JP Stevens High School (Edison, NJ) won $5,000. Their PSA, "NJM Hit That Brake Just Drive," highlighted five steps that lead to safe driving.

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