A Commpro News Update

Leaders from throughout the worlds of advertising, media, entertainment and social entrepreneurship have teamed up to aid Project Yellow Light, a national public service advertising (PSA) contest and scholarship program. The program is aimed at preventing texting and driving.

The panel of judges includes actress, YouTuber and tastemaker Meg DeAngelis; hip-hop artist Aloe Blacc; filmmaker and social activist Kweku Mandela; Wendy Clark, CEO of DDB North America; Jeff Goodby, Co-Chairman of Goodby Silverstein & Partners; and Michael McGraw, SVP of Marketing Solutions at Clear Channel Outdoor Americas (CCOA).

According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 3000 people were killed and an estimated 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2015, all of which involved distracted drivers.  Nine percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted at the time of the crash. Project Yellow Light is looking to reach out to this critical audience with the power of peer-generated content.

“We’re so grateful and excited to welcome back our distinguished panel of judges,” said Julie Garner, founder of Project Yellow Light. “Each brings a unique creative perspective and they are all committed to road safety and saving lives.”

Julie Garner and her family created the scholarship competition to honor the memory of her son, Hunter Garner, after his death in a car crash at age 16. The winning submissions are turned into public service advertisements (PSAs). As part of their ongoing “Stop the Texts. Stop the Wrecks.” Texting and Driving Prevention campaign, the Ad Council partners with Project Yellow Light to ensure the winning submissions receive nationwide exposure through TV spots, iHeartMedia radio stations, and CCOA billboards.

Supporting partners of Project Yellow Light include Mazda Motorsports, U-Haul, iHeartMedia, CCOA and the National Organization of Youth Safety (NOYS).

“The power of Project Yellow Light is in its peer-to-peer approach of engaging creative young adults around the issue of texting and driving,” said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council. “We hope that by reaching out to teens in their own words, we can reduce the crashes caused by distracted driving.”

The program is accepting applications through April 1, 2017 for radio and video submissions. For more details on timing, judging criteria and a full list of rules and regulations, visit www.projectyellowlight.com.