PITTSBURG, Kan. — With “Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day” coming up next month, the Kansas Department of Transportation is once again hosting a poster contest for Kansas kids ages 5 through 13, and a video contest for kids in grades 8 through 12, to help promote the public safety campaign.
Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, which is Oct. 12, “is a national safety awareness campaign that focuses on all types of traffic safety,” according to KDOT. “Whether you are in a vehicle, on a motorcycle or bicycle or even walking, the goal is for you to arrive safely.”
Kansas kids ages 5 through 13 are eligible for the poster contest and can enter artwork showing ways to reduce traffic crashes (vehicles, bikes, trains, walking, etc.) and “Put the Brakes on Fatalities.”
Regional winners will be chosen in three age categories, 5 to 7 years old, 8 to 10 years old, and 11 to 13 years old. Three statewide winners will be selected from the 18 regional winners. Each statewide winner will receive a Kindle Fire Tablet with case from the Kansas Turnpike Authority, a $50 Amazon gift card from Fuel True/Independent Energy and Convenience; movie passes from AAA Kansas, and $200 for their school, booster club or class. All Kansas kids who submit completed entries will be eligible for a random prize drawing of a $100 Amazon gift card.
Art must be on 8.5” x 11” paper. Any materials can be used, including paint, crayon, pencil, pastel, or collage. Winners’ names and artwork will be sent to media and posted on the KDOT website and social media. Only one entry is allowed per student and the submission deadline is Sept. 23.
For older students, KDOT is also hosting a video contest. The Put the Brakes on Fatalities video contest is open to Kansas and Kansas City metro area teens in grades 8 to 12.
The public service announcement (PSA) style videos must be between six (0:06) and sixty (0:60) seconds in length and must promote fatality prevention using themes such as (but not limited to) distracted driving, speeding, and seat belt use.
Selfie videos will not be accepted, videos must not include the KTA logo or any stock/copyrighted imagery, and videos entered in any previous Put the Brakes on Fatalities video contests will not be accepted.
Video must be submitted by Sept. 25 by uploading to YouTube and sharing the link in the submission form at ksturnpike.com/contests. Contestants may enter as many videos as they'd like, but can only win once. Video submissions can be entered as a group or by an individual, but all persons associated with the video must be identified in the submission form online. Videos may be used by the Kansas Turnpike Authority after the end of the contest.
Prizes include a GoPro, DJI stabilizer, and DJI drone. Winners will be decided by a committee of transportation officials based on message development and call-to-action, script, use of technology, incorporation of safety message, etc. The grand prize winner will be able to choose which prize they want, the runner up will be able to choose from the two remaining prizes, and the third-place winner will receive the remaining prize. The grand prize winner’s school will receive $500 for its booster club.
For more information on both contests, visit ksdot.org/events/PutTheBrakesOnFatalitiesDay/.
