Matawan Regional HS Teens Make Distracted Driving Video, Win $10,000

MATAWAN, NJ — A video created by students at Matawan Regional High School to warn about the dangers of distracted driving won second place in a contest held by NJM Insurance Group.

The teens won $10,000 for their high school for their video, which you can watch here. A video from Lenape High School in Medford won first place, taking home $15,000.

The winning schools put their prize money towards a post-prom, post-graduation or safe driving program.

NJM Insurance Group held the contest in partnership with the Pennsylvania DUI Association and the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey, in their fourth annual "Just Drive" public service announcement video contests.

Students from 71 high schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania created 30-second video PSAs highlighting the dangers of distracted driving.

According to the National Safety Council, car crashes are the number one cause of preventable deaths for teens.

NJM Insurance also shared the winning videos on Facebook, Instagram and Tik-Tok — to reach the teens online.

The three winning New Jersey schools, and their videos are:

• First Place: Lenape High School, Medford "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.) 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) won $5,000. Their PSA, "NJM Hit That Brake Just Drive," highlighted five steps that lead to safe driving.

The video by Matawan Regional teens:

Here is the First Place winning video by Medford teens:

The three winning Pennsylvania schools are:

• First Place: CLASS Academy (Bayden, PA) won $15,000. Their PSA, "Put the Distractions Aside," contends that having your dentist or barber distracted while working would be worrisome, yet driving distracted is far more dangerous.

• Second Place: Penn-Trafford High School (Harrison City, PA) won $10,000. Their PSA, "Drive Distraction Free," points out students are distraction free during daily tasks, so why drive distracted?

• Third Place: Palisades High School (Kintnersville, PA) won $5,000. Their PSA, "Symphony of Distraction," highlighted how passengers can be distracting to drivers, so telling them to stop can allow you to focus on the road.