New York – September 22, 2026 -- Teenagers across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa can now submit scripts for a 30-second TV public service announcement warning drivers about the dangers of speeding, with a top prize of $2,000.
The 13th annual Drive Safe Chicago PSA Contest opens for entries
The National Road Safety Foundation, backed by the Chicago Auto Show, is running the contest for teens in the Chicagoland region and surrounding states. Entrants must submit a script or written description of a speeding-awareness PSA by mail or email before the Dec. 18, 2026 deadline.
Three finalists get to work with an Emmy-winning director
Judges will pick three student finalists whose ideas will be produced into finished PSAs with the help of an Emmy Award-winning director. The public will then vote online to choose the winner. The top entry receives $2,000, the first runner-up gets $1,500, and the second runner-up earns $500. Winning students' teachers or advisors each receive a $100 gift card.
The winning ad airs on more than 160 stations nationwide
The victorious PSA will be broadcast on "Teen Kids News" across over 160 TV stations in the U.S. All contest entrants, regardless of placement, will receive a free ticket to the 2027 Chicago Auto Show, courtesy of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA). That show runs Feb. 13-21, 2027 at McCormick Place.
Speeding remains a leading cause of U.S. traffic deaths
Speeding accounted for about 29 percent of all fatal crashes in the country, according to the release. NHTSA data cited in the announcement shows 11,775 people died in speeding-related crashes in 2023, with hundreds of thousands of additional injuries and costs estimated in the billions of dollars annually.
"Carnage on our roads can be reduced with some common courtesy and obeying speed limits,