BEAVERTOWN — After a traffic accident last year, caused by another teen driver, Michael Flood, 18, suffered four dislocated toes on his left foot and totalled his motorcycle.
So when the Midd-West High School senior heard of PennDOT’s first “Drive Safe PA” radio contest, he knew exactly what to say in his 30-second submission, which was one of 11 winning entries, out of 200, in the state. He was the PennDOT District 3 winner from among 36 entries.
The contest was introduced for the first time by PennDOT in February. Students in grades 10, 11 and 12 were asked to create 30-second public service announcements about aggressive driving, buckling up or driving under the influence.
If you think there’s enough space to pass someone alongside the road, or you tailgate, Flood has you targeted in his radio piece. “If you do those things, you are an aggressive driver,” he said.
Flood, a part-time DJ at 94 WQKX, sees many aggressive drivers on his long commute to work from Beavertown to Sunbury. “I’m afraid to drive on the strip. There are so many crazy drivers there,” he said.
The WQKX helped Flood put together his PSA contest submission, which he will again record professionally in Harrisburg on Wednesday. In May, National Youth Traffic Safety month, the announcements will be distributed to local radio stations. The students will also receive certificates and finished copies of the PSA during presentations at their school.
“Michael is a very good student,” said Midd-West High School Principal Ron Renshaw. In addition to pursuing an interest in radio and communications, Flood is involved in marching band, jazz band, vocal ensemble, and plays and musicals and is vice president of his class.
“To get students’ attention, it’s very important to get them involved somehow,” said Mike Hess, PennDOT District 3 safety press officer. “It was very uplifting to see so many entries come in.”
Traffic crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens, Hess said. “That’s why it’s really important they pay attention, put the cell phones down, absolutely do not text while driving, always buckle up and watch speed limits, especially on the country roads we have in this area.”
In 2007, there were a total of six traffic deaths in Snyder County, nine in Northumberland, three in Union and two in Montour.
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