IDOT Announces Second Annual Work Zone Safety Statewide Calendar Contest

SPRINGFIELD, IL-The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is honoring 12 students from across the state that participated in the 2007 Illinois Work Zone Safety Calendar Contest.  This is the second year that IDOT is holding a work zone safety calendar contest.

The drawings of the twelve finalists will appear in thousands of calendars, which will be distributed at IDOT events across Illinois.    

"Our congratulations go to these twelve youngsters who have taken the time to recognize the importance of work zone safety issues," said IDOT Acting Secretary Milt R. Sees.  "We are proud that so many children participated in a fun, creative contest."

The Illinois State Board of Education and IDOT joined the Illinois Chapter of ATSSA and the American Traffic Safety Services Foundation (ATSSF) to coordinate the statewide calendar contest to promote work zone safety by introducing children at an early age to safe driving techniques.  The idea is to instill a lifelong awareness of work zone hazards and foster safe driving behavior in the future.  Children were asked to draw their view of a work zone. 

Over 2,700 students from various schools across the state participated in the Illinois calendar contest.  The public was invited to vote on-line for their favorite entry.  More than 5,300 people cast their votes on the IDOT website.

Students in kindergarten through sixth-grade in public elementary schools around the state were eligible to participate in this contest.  There are three categories:  kindergarten through first grade, second through third grade and fourth through sixth-grade.

IDOT has worked to encourage students and their parents or caregivers to become aware of the importance of driving safely in work zones.  The top 12 finalists from Illinois have their entries on the IDOT website.  The top 12 finalist drawings can be viewed at www.dot.il.gov/trafficsafety/WZS/WZScontest.html.