High school students across Montgomery County have a message for their peers: “Put those phones away when driving or walking.” That theme was emphasized as the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) announced the winners of its 2025 Heads Up, Phones Down video contest.
“Our young people are often the most effective messengers when it comes to promoting safety,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “The students who took part in this contest are helping to save lives by reminding their peers—and all of us—that distracted driving and walking can have tragic consequences. I want to extend my gratitude to the nearly 100 students who submitted entries into this year’s contest. I’m proud of their creativity and commitment to keeping our roads and sidewalks safer for everyone.”
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Prizes awarded in both the group and individual categories included a grand prize, and first- and second runner-up prizes. Winning group submissions received $800 for the grand prize, $400 for first place and $200 for second place. The prize money was split evenly within each group, with each member receiving their portion of the winnings on a Visa gift card. Individual submission winners qualified for prizes that included an Apple MacBook Pro, an Apple Watch or a tripod.
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“In Maryland, more than 6,000 young drivers are injured and 14 are killed annually from car crashes,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “Distracted driving is a key factor in many of these collisions. Dialing a phone number while driving increases a teen’s risk of crashing by six times, and texting while driving increases the risk by 23 times. We need to encourage young drivers to hold themselves accountable and hold each other accountable. These videos are a positive way to send a message about a deadly behavior.”
For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=46741