Reality: TMA Bucks video contest puts safety in the driver's seat

Six teenagers die in a car crash in the United States every day. Vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among United States teenagers, according to the CDC.

That seems like some sort of hypothetical that we all distance ourselves from, until it’s you who’s affected.

Teens are especially excited to gain their new license and work toward their own independent lives, but it brings irreversible accidents and one-time mistakes that last a lifetime. 

Whether it be the fact that of the horrendous habit of texting and driving, the irresponsible position of taking the wheel while under the influence, or a lack of defensive driving, vehicle accident deaths within teenagers has become a serious problem.

Over time, it has left so many empty seats at the dinner table, and forever broken families.

So, TMA Bucks took the initiative in educating teens with incentive and with hands-on activity to further prevent more vehicle accidents.

One project is the TMA Bucks Teen Driver Safety Video PSA Challenge. The challenge calls upon Bucks County teens in surrounding high schools to learn about the importance of safe driving.

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The contest, supported by Comcast, asks students to create a video PSA on the importance of safe driving, involving any sort of related topic such as speeding, texting while driving, DUI, and more. Videos once again will be judged by Reality panelists; the winning school receives a $500 grant and videos will be aired on Comcast's network.

Videos must be uploaded to YouTube with the link emailed to dave@bctma.com by April 1 to be eligible to win.

The contest is part of the TMA’s Bucks County High School Seatbelt Safety Challenge.

The other half of the challenge encourages teen drivers to wear seatbelts while driving by monitoring student bodies who drive to and from school and creating student groups promoting seat belt wearing.

However, COVID-19 has affected the usual course of Safe Driving Week. TMA Bucks has postponed the Seatbelt Challenge due to the fact that a limited number of schools are fully in person.

“We understand this school year is incredibly unique for students and teachers and just like last spring we will once again offer Bucks County high schools the opportunity to create video PSAs to create positive change in their school communities,” said TMA Bucks executive director Stephen Noll. 

Even in the odd and unfortunately very real circumstances of a global pandemic, TMA Bucks is making it clear that teen vehicle accidents are still a very prevalent problem. It’s a topic that can’t be put on hold and that should be educated at the source.

Families don’t deserve to be torn apart from a preventable event. Teenagers don’t deserve to lose the rest of their lives because of a problem they weren’t aware of or didn’t take seriously.

Spots at the dinner table don’t deserve to be empty.

With the last parting words I give, please take with all seriousness as it could save your life: Drive safe.