Drive Smart

CTIA Wireless Foundation launched the annual Drive Smart campaign in 2014 as an ongoing effort to discourage distracted driving among Americans nationwide. This program challenges 13 -18 year old students to create digital shorts that educate their peers about the dangers of driving while distracted. Each year, the Foundation awards up to $10,000 in scholarships recognizing the top video submissions. Drive Smart’s reach has grown exponentially over the years, with the 2018 winning videos viewed more than 1.3 million times.

During Distracted Driving Awareness Month, CTIA Wireless Foundation Executive Director Dori Kreiger traveled to Cypress Creek High School in Cypress, Texas to recognize 2019 Grand Prize Winner Brian Tran and present him with a scholarship worth $10,000.

“Brian is a leader with a great attitude, and is always willing to help others,” said Tracey Blackman, Tran’s teacher and mentor. “Participating in the Drive Smart contest exemplifies the initiative he will take to help others for a worthy cause. I am very proud of Brian and hope he will continue to participate in activities that will help others in the future.”

Isabel Wallace, 18, of Washington Township, Michigan was named the Grand Prize Winner for her creative digital short ‘Two Things at Once’ for the 2018 Drive Smart Competition. Wallace showed the challenge of performing multiple tasks at the same time and used humor to illustrate the serious problem of distracted driving.

Wallace and her parents traveled to Washington, D.C. in April, 2018 to continue spreading the message about the dangers of distracted driving. She debuted her video to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Deputy Administrator Heidi King and CTIA Wireless Foundation Secretary Jamie Hastings during a presentation at the Department of Transportation.