Making and Keeping Vermont’s Highways Safe
We’re working to make Vermont’s highways safer for everyone —drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians.
2026 PSA Video Contest: Focus Drives Your Future
Calling all VT high school students to create a PSA Video to educate and motivate young drivers to avoid distracted driving! Our goal is to inspire high school students across Vermont to speak up and help prevent distracted driving to reduce crashes and injuries, and save lives.
Participants must be enrolled in a Vermont public or private high school, a homeschool program, or an eligible New Hampshire cross‑border school (Grades 9–12) and reside in Vermont. Students can enter as an individual or a two‑person team, but only one video may be submitted per person or team. Prizes will be awarded to the individual or team listed on the submission form. A parent or guardian may be required to sign an eligibility form for students under 18 before prizes can be awarded.
The PSA should speak directly to teenagers and young adults- develop a peer to peer message for those who are new to driving. This video message should encourage drivers to make smart, safe choices behind the wheel. No footage may show anyone driving while distracted, holding a device, or breaking any Vermont traffic laws or GDL laws. Brand logos can not be visible in your video. This includes vehicle manufacturer logos, clothing, or logos from background footage. Be mindful of logos on steering wheels, shirts and jackets, or items inside vehicles or along the roadway. This is important due to copyright and trademark laws.
To produce your PSA, you may use: cell phones, video cameras, or animation software, still photos or graphic design elements, editing software such as CapCut, iMovie, Adobe Premiere, etc. Your final PSA must be saved as an MP4 file, created as a 30-second, 45-second or 60-second video. Upload your PSA to YouTube (public or unlisted) and complete the Video Entry Form including your YouTube link.
Submission Deadline: March 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM Winners Announced: April 10, 2026 An Award Ceremony will be held on April 15th at 11am at the State House. Winning videos become the property of the Vermont Highway Safety Alliance and may be shared on VHSA websites, digital platforms, and statewide media. Prizes
1st Place $1,000
2nd Place $750
3rd Place $500
*Educational Support Prize $250
*This prize will be awarded to the school teacher who has the most students enter the contest! The funds should be used to support their classroom/curricula.
This year’s prizes are sponsored by:
AAA Northern New England
Co-operative Insurance Companies
Vermont Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (VDTSA)
Yankee Driving School
Westside Driving
The Vermont Construction Association
Please review the resources available at VermontHighwaySafety.org or linked below.For more information on distracted driving, we strongly suggest utilizing UVM Health’s Distracted Driving lesson prior to PSA development and production.For guidance on creating a PSA, utilize this PSA Lesson Plan.
Fatalities on Vermont’s roadways
are at an all-time high.
As of February 9, 2026 there were 4 fatal crashes resulting in 5 fatalities:
4 motor vehicle operators, 1 passenger,
0 pedestrians | 0 bicyclists
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance (VHSA) is a non-profit organization that collaborates with private, local, and state agencies, to integrate data-driven decision making, and advocate for public education and enforcement support to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. Our mission is to create equitable access to safe transportation and to ensure every journey is safe.
Our Vision is to achieve zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Vermont's roadways by fostering a culture of collision-free driving, promoting sustainable and safe transportation options, and enhancing community well-being through safety initiatives.
The VHSA is a coalition of highway safety proponents that include law enforcement, federal and state agencies, municipal organizations, healthcare providers, for-profit businesses, industry associations, judiciary, and driver educators. Together, we interact with Vermonters with the goal of changing behaviors. Risky habits such as driving while impaired, distracted, unbelted, speeding, and aggressively all contribute to crashes that may result in serious injuries and fatalities.
We work with many partners to improve highway safety by integrating engineering; enforcement; education, marketing and outreach; and emergency medical services (the four Es of highway safety) initiatives.
The emotional and financial toll impacts individuals, families, and businesses and is completely preventable.
Here's how you can get involved:
Partner
Pledge
Join
Donate
Invite VHSA to an employee wellness day or make a fleet safety presentation
Invite VHSA to your community event
Visit VHSA at a community event, car show, or summer fair
Attend VHSA’s annual educational conference
Submit an entry into the VHSA’s annual PSA video contest for high school students