BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), in collaboration with global nonprofit Fundación MAPFRE, announced the launch of the third annual roadway safety public service contest for Massachusetts high school students. 

 

The contest, which was launched in 2022 as part of Fundación MAPFRE's Look Both Ways Program, seeks to help students raise awareness with their peers and underscore the importance of being safe while driving on roadways across the Commonwealth.  

 

"MassDOT is excited to renew our partnership with Fundación MAPFRE for the third annual roadway safety education contest," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "Engaging young drivers in safety education is a crucial step in our mission to enhance road safety, and we look forward to seeing the innovative ideas that students will present this year. Their participation is vital to our efforts to create a future free of roadway injuries and fatalities."   

 

To enter the contest, high schools can visit: https://www.fundacionmapfre.org/en/look-both-ways/. The deadline for contest submissions is Friday, March 21.  Students with the winning submission will work with the Boston Creative Communications Agency (CTP) to produce the spot, which is anticipated to air in the spring before prom and graduation season. Additionally, the winning students' school will receive a $3,000 prize provided by Fundación MAPFRE.   

 

"While statistics show a decline in road-related fatalities among young drivers over the past several decades, it remains the leading cause of death for that group," said Jaime Tamayo, Chief Representative of Fundación MAPFRE in the United States and CEO of MAPFRE USA. "It is inspiring to watch students deliver a serious message in creative ways to reinforce the importance of safe driving habits. This contest represents a great example of how peer-to-peer engagement can encourage change." 

 

Fundación MAPFRE, a non-profit based in Madrid, Spain, with North American headquarters in Webster, Massachusetts, aims to promote the well-being of society. One of the action areas to which the foundation is dedicated is prevention and road safety. It believes that, if the Vision Zero movement in 1997 led to a revolution in our understanding of road safety, the current goal should be to reach the point where there are no fatalities or road-related injuries.