MacArthur HS Wins $10,000 in ‘Dangers of Distracted Driving’ Video Contest

NYCM Insurance recently awarded MacArthur High School $10,000 for a video students at the school produced warning teens about the dangers of distracted driving.  

The entry was one of three winners selected from among 48 entries submitted by ninth through twelfth graders who attend public schools throughout the state. MacArthur High School is in the Levittown School District and is attended by students in northern sections of Wantagh and Seaford. 

“Many people still don’t realize how dangerous distracted driving is, or they may know the risks, but they think the statistics don’t apply to them,” said Tom McDaniel, marketing event director at NYCM Insurance. “Our goal for the video contest was for teens to educate themselves and others about the dangers of distracted driving to bring about real change.” 

According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 48 percent of all teens between 12 and 17 say they have ridden in a car while the driver was texting. In addition to texting, dangerous driving distractions also include making calls on a cell phone, eating, drinking, grooming, setting a GPS, surfing the Web, selecting music or playing with the stereo. Eleven percent of all drivers under 20 who were involved in fatal crashes were reported to be distracted at the time of the accident. 

The video entries were judged by a panel that included parents of teenagers. Laurens Central School in Laurens, N.Y., and Indian River Central High School in Philadelphia, N.Y., also were named contest winners. 

The top 15 videos are now eligible for the People’s Choice Award.  NYCM will give $500 to the students who produced the video that receives the most “likes” on the company’s Facebook page. Viewers can cast their votes at www.nycm.com now through April 30.

NYCM Insurance, headquartered in Edmeston, N.Y., is a property and casualty insurance carrier providing coverage to residents and businesses in New York since 1899. The company offers automobile, homeowner, mobile home, umbrella and commercial policies and is rated “A+” by A.M. Best Company. 

For more information, call 1-800-234-6926 or visitwww.nycm.com.