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MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – Middlesex County is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 “Don’t Drive Dangerously” Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest, which was open to teens in all public and non-public high schools in the County. In the Video category, first place was awarded to South Plainfield High School, while Woodbridge Academy Magnet School took first place in the Audio category. Additional winners in the Video category included North Brunswick High School in second place and Monroe Township High School in third place. The Audio category winners also included St. Joseph High School in second place and South Plainfield High School in third place.
The winners were recognized at an awards ceremony held Monday, May 19, 2025, at the Middlesex County Fire Academy.
“On behalf of the entire Board of County Commissioners, I’d like to offer my gratitude to all of the participants and congratulate the winners of this year’s PSA contest,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “This program empowers the next generation of drivers to take the lead in promoting safe driving habits. Through creativity and powerful storytelling, our youth are helping to save lives and create a culture of responsibility on our roads.”
“Distracted driving is the number one cause of fatal and serious injury crashes—killing approximately 3,000 people and injuring more than 400,000 nationwide in 2024 alone,” said Middlesex County Deputy Director Shanti Narra, Chair of the County’s Public Safety and Health Committee. “As young drivers, you can set an example of how to drive safely, and that’s exactly what you’ve done through your PSAs. Thank you for contributing to our shared mission to make our roads safer for everyone.”
The PSA contest complements Middlesex County’s ongoing public safety efforts, including Vision Zero, a county-wide strategy to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. To address the leading cause of traffic fatalities in the region—distracted driving—the County has launched the public service announcement campaign “60 to Zero.” To learn more, take the pledge, and help Middlesex County reach zero, visit discovermiddlesex.com/VisionZero.
“Middlesex County is proud to be the first County in New Jersey to adopt a Vision Zero Action Plan,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Charles Kenny, Chair of the Transportation Committee. “Through our new public awareness campaign—"60 to Zero”—we are highlighting how small distractions like texting, adjusting music, or even grooming can have devastating consequences. This campaign urges drivers to stay alert and make safe choices to ensure our roads are safe for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.”
Each year, high schools across the County are encouraged to submit either a 60-second student-produced video or a 30-second audio PSA. The contest is designed to educate teens and their peers about the life-altering consequences of dangerous driving and to encourage positive peer influence behind the wheel.
The event is co-sponsored by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners; the Middlesex County Superintendent of Schools; NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety; Wellspring Center for Prevention; Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital; Catch You Later Foundation; and MADD-NJ.
The 2025 PSA contest winners by category are:
Video:
1st Place – South Plainfield High School
- Isaiah Taitt
- Jason Heller
- Daniel Dowker
- Michael Lugo
- Daniel Swartz
2nd Place – North Brunswick High School
- Caleb Waszaj
- Angel Rodriguez Reyes
- Farrah Belton
- Hamid Jalloh
- Julia Santiago
3rd Place – Monroe Township High School
- Iman Adam
- Jasmin Chaquor
- Zachary Fornal
- Dennis Lewis
- Angel Ramos Urizar
Audio:
1st Place – Woodbridge Academy Magnet School
- Adithi Santhosh Kumar
- Victoria Bartusik
- Mridula Srinivas
- Katie Chen
2nd Place – St. Joseph High School
3rd Place – South Plainfield High School
- Gabriel Lotano
- Vincent Vo
- Jace Gibson
- Bryce English
- Alex Ndegwa
To learn more about Vision Zero and Middlesex County’s efforts to eliminate traffic-related deaths, visit middlesexcountynj.gov or discovermiddlesex.com/VisionZero.
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