As roads begin to clear, inclement weather has made driving more dangerous due to snow and ice. However, weather is not the only factor that can make roads unsafe. Distracted drivers or pedestrians pose the same danger.
To help raise awareness and encourage students to focus on their surroundings instead of their phones while driving or walking, Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is accepting entries for its annual “Heads Up, Phones Down” video contest for high school students through Saturday, Feb. 28.
According to MCDOT, five fatal crashes and 2,823 injury crashes occur in Montgomery County each year due to distracted driving.
The "Heads Up, Phones Down" short video contest held by @mcdotnow is back. High schoolers can win prizes for delivering the message that phones should be shelved while driving. Submit your video online before Feb. 28.
Details: https://t.co/RmDli8untQ#VisionZero #SafeStreets pic.twitter.com/At8pzsu9pv— Montgomery County MD Government (@MontgomeryCoMD) February 2, 2026
Students in the county are eligible to submit a 30-second video using their creativity to promote safe behavior and the importance of putting away phones to focus on the road.
“Texting while driving and walking continue to cost lives,” County Executive Marc Elrich said in a MCDOT press release. “Young people have the power to change that by speaking up and setting a new standard.”
“Heads Up, Phones Down” video submissions can be in English or Spanish and completed individually or in groups of up to four students. Individual entries can win Apple products such as a MacBook Air or an Apple Watch. Group submissions can win up to $800.
Students who apply may also qualify for Student Service Learning hours for completing and submitting a video.
For more information or to submit a video, visit https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-PedSafety/HUPD/
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