Ellen Schneider Wins 2023 David McKenzie Teen Drinking and Driving Prevention PSA Scholarship

    MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA, January 12, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Each year, McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. awards its Teen Drinking and Driving Prevention PSA Scholarship to one deserving recipient. Ellen Schneider, a student at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business, was given the $2,500 award this year.

Part of qualifying for the scholarship was submitting an essay about why the applicant believed teens choose to drive while drunk. Then, they had to propose solutions to reduce teenage drinking and driving. Ellen's passionate scholarship application essay makes her a well-deserving awardee. As a teacher, Ellen feels strongly about educating adolescents about the dangers of drunk driving. The empathy she feels toward her students allows her to understand some reasons teenagers may choose to drink and drive.

In her essay, Ellen explains she believes some parents might accidentally give their teenage children the wrong idea when it comes to drinking and driving. Even driving after one drink can set the wrong example. Ellen also notes that peer pressure plays a major role in teenage decision-making. When teens have their friends in the car, they're more likely to make reckless decisions that could lead to serious accidents and legal penalties.

Scholarship Winner Recommends Solutions to the Teenage Drinking and Driving Issue

McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. requires applicants to brainstorm solutions that may discourage teens from drinking and driving. Ellen's first recommendation is to emphasize the strict legal penalties teens will face if they're caught drunk driving. The fear of spending time in jail or losing their license could be enough to scare teenagers away from driving while intoxicated.

Ellen also proposes a stricter blood alcohol content (BAC) limit nationwide. While each state makes it illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or higher, Ellen believes an even stricter limit and more sobriety checkpoints may lead to fewer accidents.

Teenagers might be more willing to listen to concerns about drunk driving if the message came from their favorite social media content creators. Ellen recommends launching social campaigns that target teenage drivers and warn them about the dangers of driving drunk.

Cities could also make public transportation more affordable and accessible. There aren't many inexpensive options for teenagers to get around, which may make some teens feel forced to drive. Ellen suggests extending the working hours of public transportation services, allowing those who need a late-night ride to have an affordable option that doesn't put road users at risk.

For this year's round, students interested in applying for the Teen Drinking and Driving Prevention PSA Scholarship are asked to craft an original video public service announcement (PSA), focusing on the reason why teenagers continue to drink and drive despite the obvious dangers. We are interested to see their ideas on what could be done to alleviate the situation. Upon scripting, shooting, and editing their videos, students should post them as unlisted videos on YouTube. Students can then submit a link to their video through the scholarship form available on the scholarship page. The length of the video should be around 30 to 60 seconds, maximum.

About McKenzie Law Firm, P.C.

McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. is a full-service criminal defense law firm serving clients in several Pennsylvania counties. From DUI cases to theft crimes and drug crimes, Attorney McKenzie has handled several types of criminal cases. As a former criminal prosecutor, he brings valuable knowledge to each case he handles.

If you or someone you love is looking for a criminal defense lawyer, don't hesitate to reach out to McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. A legal consultation is available when you call (610) 813-6317.

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