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High-speed | Dial-up

The Abingdon High School Lookin' Out committee and cast of "The Invincibles" pose with their Erie Insurance Agent sponsor, Brian Wampler (right).

JET-TV Partnership
Produces Additional PSA

To enhance safe teen driving efforts in the Erie, Pa., region, Erie Insurance recently partnered with JET-TV (ABC affiliate) to create an additional safe driving public service announcement (PSA) (dial-up version).

Students from the Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy won the local contest and took part in a half-day shoot with a JET-TV camera crew (watch the news coverage).

Collegiate Academy’s PSA emphasizes IIHS statistics: on average, 5,600 U.S. teenagers are killed each year as a result of traffic crashes. The spot shows a teen boy attending a party, drinking alcohol, choosing to drive and being involved in a crash.

Then it considers the alternative — the same boy chooses not to drink at the party and returns home safely.

The spot encourages young drivers to make similar decisions to help reverse the trend of traffic-related fatalities among teenagers.

The spot is currently being aired in the Erie market on JET-TV and FOX 66.

Now Playing: ‘The Invincibles’

June 6, 2007 - Teenagers often believe they are invincible and immune to the dangers of driving recklessly.

Virginia students from the Abingdon High School’s Lookin’ Out® committee recently spent a day showcasing several of those reckless behaviors — speeding, text messaging and not wearing seatbelts — that are common among teen drivers.

But in this case, it was for good measure and done in a safe, controlled environment as the students were taking part in filming this year’s Lookin’ Out public service announcement (PSA), “The Invincibles” (dial-up version).

The PSA is the result of the seventh annual contest held among schools participating in Lookin’ Out, Erie Insurance’s safe teen driving program. Each school is eligible to submit one idea for a 30-second television PSA and have the opportunity to appear in a professionally produced spot.

The PSA is currently airing on local TV stations in the Abingdon market.

The concept

Lookin’ Out is created by teens for other teens, and the PSA falls in line with that model.

Abingdon’s concept mimics a movie trailer. Scenes include a driver sending a cell phone text message, another driver running a red light, and a car full of friends causing commotion that distracts a driver.

The school’s entry was chosen for its potential to appeal to young drivers, says Shane Brown, field production specialist, Media Services, who served as the cinematographer for the production.

“The spot begins,” Brown says, “with a sequence of fast moving scenes in order to grab the attention of young viewers, but an abrupt finish reminds teens of the harsh reality and the risks that they are taking if they’re not careful.”

In the final scene, Abingdon senior Benji Neece peers into the camera and speaks directly to other young drivers: “In reality, we’re not invincible.”

Shane, along with Matt Bresee, public relations specialist and Lookin’ Out program coordinator, shot and produced the spot. They were assisted by Brian Wampler of Wampler’s Insurance Agency who serves as the agent adviser to Abingdon’s Lookin’ Out program.

“The kids have done a great job in their first year with the program,” says Wampler. “Being part of the PSA shoot was an added bonus and a thrill for us all.”

The community’s cooperation

Several community organizations assisted with traffic control at three separate locations where filming took place. The Abingdon Township Police, Washington County Sherriff’s Department and the Virginia Department of Transportation all donated their services to the project.

The film shoot was also covered by the local media: Abingdon Students Star in Safe-Driving PSA.