In 2020, seven percent of drivers aged 15 to 19 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted – the largest proportion of any age group. Project Yellow Light was created to prevent future tragedies like these through the voice of our nation’s youth.
Project Yellow Light is a scholarship competition that provides students with a unique opportunity to create billboard, TV or radio PSAs to educate their peers about the dangers of distracted driving, specifically the dangers of using mobile devices while driving.
And for the first time since 2019, Project Yellow Light and its partners were back in person in Times Square on June 24 to reveal and celebrate the winners of the eleventh annual Project Yellow Light scholarship competition.
The competition was established after the tragic loss of Hunter Garner, who was only 16 years old when he died in a car crash in 2007. Since then, Hunter’s mother, Julie Garner, has been dedicated to promoting safe driving practices while honoring the memory of Hunter through Project Yellow Light.
Out of nearly 1,900 submissions from students across the country, only six winners were selected and received scholarship prizes of up to $8,000. Many of this year’s winners, along with friends, families and supporting partners, saw their work premiere live on Clear Channel Outdoor’s digital billboards in the bright and bustling Times Square. In addition, their PSAs are running across more than 1,500 digital displays nationwide, as well as radio and TV networks.
Project Yellow Light has had a powerful impact in many ways, from helping students pay for their education to reminding drivers across the country how imperative it is to stay focused on the road. The competition is an opportunity for young people to use their voice, creativity and the power of media to save lives.
“Huge thanks to Clear Channel Outdoor for their gracious support and to all of our partners for making this project a possibility. Congratulations to our winners and all our applicants – they are using their creativity to bring attention to the dangers of distracted driving – one of the leading causes of death of our youth,” said Julie Garner at the recent Times Square event. “Thank you for having a voice, making a difference and saving lives.”
“The Times Square event has shown me how impactful Project Yellow Light is. People all throughout the event would see the message and inquire to know more. I only hope my billboard can dissuade drivers from checking a text or fiddle with their phones because sometimes all we need is a reminder to refrain from such foolish behavior.” – Connor Avila, College Billboard Winner (Impossible Multitask)
“I entered the Project Yellow Light competition because I was searching for a scholarship that allowed me to express myself creatively. However, what truly encouraged me to enter the competition was the opportunity to create a message that would influence my peers to practice safe and focused driving. When I designed my billboard, I knew I wanted a message that would stick with drivers." – Isabella Kaake, High School Billboard Winner (Text or Drive)
Clear Channel Outdoor has been a proud partner with Project Yellow Light for seven years, standing alongside all supporting partners, including the Ad Council, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the National 4-H Council, Elephant Insurance, iHeartMedia, the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and WKRN-TV Nashville, to help prevent distracted driving.
We’re honored to be a part of such an inspiring cause that affects change and save lives. No text or distraction is worth a life, and we hope by leveraging our out-of-home platform, we can spread these lifesaving messages to drivers across the country.
Remember that if you’re texting, who’s driving?
Topics: Digital Billboards, "CSR"
