The South Dakota Department of Transportation and the South Dakota chapter of the Associated General Contractors recently announced the winners of its annual work zone awareness art contest.
[Above photo by South Dakota DOT]
Fourth-grade students from across the state designed billboards to encourage work zone safety as part of this contest. The agency plans to hold five separate ceremonies for each award winner for their respective elementary schools from May 9 through May 23. The South Dakota DOT added that students with a winning entry, along with the classroom teacher, earn a cash prize.
“Our partnership with the AGC and area contractors in this campaign focuses on the dangers of speeding and driving distracted in work zones,” noted Joel Jundt, South Dakota DOT secretary, in a statement.
“We are excited to engage youth and their families through a fun, yet meaningful, contest to emphasize that everyone plays a role when it comes to safety on our roadways,” he said.
[Editor’s note: The South Dakota DOT created the video below to highlight the importance of work zone safety for its highway crews and motorists alike.]
“[Our] top priority is to keep you and your family safe on our state roadways,” Jundt added. “Please make safety your priority; remember to slow down, put down distractions, wear your seatbelt, and always focus on the road ahead.”
This billboard campaign, coordinated by AGC, gives students the opportunity to create art designs to compete for a billboard spot located along one of South Dakota’s highways.
“What we look for is a work zone awareness message that is relatable for both students and their parents,” noted Lindsay Willits, deputy executive vice president for AGC. “The goal of the billboard contest is to remind motorists that safer driving habits mean safer work zones for everyone.”