The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation partnered with the Highway Safety Network and State Farm to announce Bentworth High School as the winner of the 2025 “No Excuses” Distracted Driving Billboard Design Contest.
The State Farm sponsored contest was open to all high school students in Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette, and Greene counties. Students from 7 local schools submitted 13 designs for judging. The first-place winner is from Bentworth High School (Washington County) and will receive $1,000; Bentworth High School will also receive $1,000. The second-place winner is from Greater Latrobe Senior High School (Westmoreland County) and will receive $500; Greater Latrobe Senior High School will also receive $500. The third-place winner is from Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center (Westmoreland County) and will receive $250; Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center will also receive $250.
The winning design will be viewed by motorists on a billboard near Bentworth High School throughout the month of April. The second and third place winners will also be presented their prizes in April.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to PennDOT data, there were 11,225 crashes in Pennsylvania involving a distracted driver in 2023, resulting in 65 deaths.
“The billboard design contest has provided a unique opportunity for creative minds to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving,” said PennDOT District 12 Safety Press Officer Emily Swecker. “The winning design will help us spread an important message – that no text is worth risking a life.”
For more information on distracted driving, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/Safety
