iDriveFocused.com. Driving while distracted is bad for your health. Here's why.

National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc (NRSF) announced today that an Arizona high-school student has won the first annual Drive to Life PSA competition.  According to a joint press release, sixteen-year old Bethany Brown's winning 30-second video entry, "Redo," features a teenage girl crashing her car after answering a text while driving.  Moments later, the scene rewinds and the girl ignores her phone and continues safely on her way.  A text message reading, "There are no redos in real life" then appears on screen.

NRSF operations director Michelle Anderson had this to say of Ms. Brown's work: "Clearly, [teenagers themselves] understand the potentially devastating consequences of bad driving habits like texting while driving."  Sandy Spavone, NOYS' executive director, added, "Our goal is to engage young people in communicating important safe driving messages in their own voice."

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, an ardent opponent of texting while driving, also congratulated Ms. Brown for her win.  On his official blog, Fast Lane, Secretary LaHood says, "Bethany's idea ought to make an effective ad, and I look forward to adding it to the growing toolkit in our campaign against this deadly epidemic."

Further, Secretary LaHood also writes he was impressed and pleased to hear that the contest received many excellent entries, meaning "a lot of young people out there get it--keep your hands on the wheel and your mind on the road."

Sage advice, Secretary.  Hopefully, Ms. Brown's winning video will help raise awareness among teenagers and adults alike of the terrible dangers of inattentiveness behind the wheel, and help prevent distracted driving everywhere.  Congratulations, Bethany Brown!