Lewis Hamilton is backing a new inititative from the Motor Sports Association aimed at highlighting key road safety messages to young people.
The MSA is launching a short film competition for young people, with motor sport being used as the theme to bring forward the road safety message. The 90 second short films are to focus on one of the ’10 Golden Rules for Safer Motoring.’
The Golden Rules are as follows:
– Buckle Up
– Respect the Highway Code
– Obey the speed limit
– Check tyre pressures
– Drive sober
– Protect children
– Pay attention
– Stop when tired
– Wear a helmet (on two wheels)
– Be courteous
Working alongside the FIA, the MSA will run the competition across two age categories – 14 to 18 and 19 to 24.
The films will be judged by a panel of experts, including the Mercedes AMG Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 presenters, as well as MSA representatives.
The winners will be announced at the British Grand Prix, with the two winning teams joining Hamilton at Silverstone to receive a £2,000 prize for their school, college or university’s film and media studies unit and a driving experience day at Silverstone. Both winning films will be broadcast on Sky Sports F1 during the weekend. Four runners up will receive a cash prize for their school, college or university and will be invited to a British motor sport event of their choice.
“This competition provides an exciting opportunity to engage with young people in a very practical way and creates a fun but educational approach to the road safety message through the medium of motor sport,” said MSA Director of Development and Communications. “Due to the very nature of our sport, safety is absolutely paramount and developments in vehicle and venue design as well as driver safety equipment, largely through the great work of the FIA Institute, have become very significant. All motor sport competitors recognise that there is a time and a place for driving at speed or in competition and that is in a regulated and controlled environment at a track or similar motor sport venue. As a sport, we must encourage people to take responsibility for their own safety and that of other road users.”
