GEICO promoting road safety through poster contest for elementary and middle school students
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 5, 2012 – Young students, picture this scenario: A careless driver is careening down a busy road, blasting loud music and texting on a mobile device, all while NOT wearing a seatbelt. Who can possibly save the day? Can anyone put a stop to these dangerous driving habits and prevent a tragic accident before it’s too late?
If this sounds like a job for a superhero, you are so right. And now it’s your chance to create the exciting superhero that will be there just in time to save the day. GEICO is calling on elementary and middle school students (grades K-8) to create a hand-drawn or computer-generated poster featuring an original superhero character that promotes the importance of safe driving for the 2012-2013 National Safety Poster and Video Contest.
Posters for the contest, which is now in its 26th year, should touch on safety messages such as the importance of wearing safety belts, preventing distracted driving and how to stop speeding. The contest’s judges will select 15 poster winners, with each winner receiving a $250 cash prize.
In a related contest, GEICO is also inviting high school students (grades 9-12) to create a promotional video that emphasizes either the dangers of distracted driving or the importance of not driving while impaired (under the influence of alcohol or drugs). High school students can submit videos in any format, such as sketch comedy, music video, commercial, reality show or animation. Three national video contest winners will be named and they each will take home a $500 cash prize.
Encouraging safe driving practices among younger generations is as important as ever and particularly critical for teen drivers who are driving solo for the first time. Inexperience and immaturity combined with speeding, impaired driving, not wearing seat belts and distracted driving make them especially susceptible to serious accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The deadline for poster and video submissions is January 6, 2013. For more information on the contest rules and how to submit an entry, please visit www.geicosafetycontest.com.
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and is the third-largest private passenger auto insurance company in the United States. GEICO provides millions of auto insurance quotes to U.S. drivers annually. The company is pleased to serve more than 11 million private passenger customers and insures more than 18 million vehicles (auto & cycle).
GEICO's online service center helps policyholders take care of policy sales, policy changes, claims reporting and to print insurance ID cards.
GEICO also provides insurance quotes on motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), travel trailers and motorhomes (RVs). Coverage for boats, life, homes and apartments is written by non-affiliated insurance companies and is secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection are also available.
For more information, go to www.geico.com.
