Safe Driving Scholarship Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide
Safe driving scholarships are a great way to finance education and raise awareness about road safety. These scholarships are offered by various organizations to encourage students to share their ideas on improving road safety, particularly concerning distracted driving.
Why Safe Driving Scholarships Matter
Distracted driving and drunk driving have enormous consequences, not only for the driver but also for their family and other road users. Teens are particularly vulnerable, accounting for almost 10% of distracted drivers in fatal car crashes. Safe driving scholarships aim to reduce or prevent distracted driving by raising awareness and promoting safe driving habits among young people.
Types of Safe Driving Scholarships
Here's an overview of a few safe driving scholarships available to students:
Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers Safe Drive Guide Scholarship
Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers considers community outreach to be one of the firm’s core values and is excited to expand its community outreach efforts. Starting in 2025, undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to apply for the Safe Drive Guide Scholarship.
Read also: Community Rejoices Over Safe Return
Our firm is happy to offer this $1,000 scholarship to students who want to share their ideas on the current texting and driving laws in their state and what could be improved to promote safety on the roads. Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers wants to invite undergraduate and graduate students from all areas of study to apply for the Safe Drive Guide Scholarship.
Eligibility: While we encourage students to take advantage of media editing tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, we do not require students to uniquely edit their videos. Students may use AI to create B-roll footage to supplement their scripts.
Application Process: Once students are satisfied with their videos, Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers requests that students upload those videos to YouTube as unlisted content. We also recommend that students include any sources they use to round out their videos and that students restrict their use of footage to copyright-free content.
Selection Process: Once the scholarship submission period closes, the scholarship selection committee will watch all of the videos submitted for consideration. The firm reserves up to three months to finish viewing students’ applications. Age, race, religion, gender, national origin, familial status, or other protected classes will have no influence on the committee’s decision. When the scholarship selection committee chooses its winner, it will inform that student directly. The team with Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers looks forward to sharing the achievements of its Safe Drive Guide Scholarship winners here at a later date.
Deadline: Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers requires all students interested in pursuing the Safe Drive Scholarship to submit their application packets by August 31, 2025. The scholarship selection committee reserves up to three months to choose the Safe Drive Guide Scholarship winner from its applicant pool.
Read also: Effective Scholarship Search
Project Yellow Light
In an effort to put a stop to car crashes caused by distracted driving, Project Yellow Light awards winning applicants scholarships for short film, billboard, and radio ads that encourage safe driving habits among peers. An amount of $8,000 is awarded for the video ad, while $2,000 is awarded for the billboard and radio ads. In addition to a scholarship, winning applicants may also have their work featured nationally through the Ad Council, Clear Channel Outdoor, and iHeart radio. Project Yellow Light was created to honor Hunter Garner, a teen victim of a car crash, and was founded by Julie Garner.
Eligibility: High school and college students are eligible with categories for both.
Deadlines: The deadline for video and radio submissions is April 1. The deadline for billboard designs is March 1.
Elephant Insurance has been one of many sponsors of Project Yellow Light. To date, it has contributed $65,000 toward the competition - all with the goal to educate teens and adults on safe driving habits.
Read also: Is Safe Haven Learning Academy Right for Your Child?
Look Twice, Save a Life Scholarship
The Look Twice, Save a Life scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship that seeks to raise awareness on motorcycle safety. It asks students to create an art or media work of social awareness that inspires other students to focus on looking twice for motorcycle safety. This work can be a video, artwork, essay, or anything that would engage other students to focus on safe driving.
Eligibility: Students must be a current college student or planning to attend college or other form of higher education and must have a valid driver’s license.
Application Process: Students will need to fill out an online application and submit a link to their video, artwork, essay, or other work of choice.
Deadline: The deadline to apply is December 1.
The Safe Driving Scholarship
To help raise awareness on the dangers of distracted driving, especially among young people, the Safe Driving Scholarship offers a $1,000 scholarship to students who want to share their ideas on the texting and driving laws in their state and what could be improved to promote safety on the road. It is sponsored by Springs Law Group.
- Eligibility: Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Deadline: The deadline to apply is May 31.
Create Real Impact Contest
To combat reckless and distracted driving, the Create Real Impact Contest offers students the chance to win a $1,500 scholarship by showcasing their solutions and strategies to stop car crashes caused by reckless and distracted driving. Students can submit an entry into one of four categories: creative writing, video, graphic design, or music. It is sponsored by Impact Teen Drivers.
- Eligibility: Open to ages 14 to 22 years. Students must be enrolled full-time in an accredited secondary school, trade school, college, or university. High school students in some states are not eligible for the video category.
- Deadline: The deadline to apply is April 28 for the spring contest.
Getting Real About Distracted Driving
To combat distracted driving, the Getting Real About Distracted Driving scholarship is a $1,500 safe driving scholarship sponsored by Comedy Defensive Driving, the driving safety and education organization. Students are asked to design an ad that will educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving and include a call to action not to text and drive, drink and drive, eat and drive, or engage in any other distraction while driving. Ads students can create include PSAs, commercials, music, billboards, and other media. Students can focus on distracted driving as a whole or pick a kind of distracted driving.
- Eligibility: Students must plan to attend or already attend an accredited college, university, or continuing education program. Students must take the pledge not to use their phone while driving or drink and drive.
- Deadline: The deadline to apply is December 31.
Digital Responsibility’s Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship
To help young people understand the risks of texting and driving, the Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship offers applicants the chance to win a $1,000 scholarship. Ten finalists will be selected based on the content of a 140-character message about texting and driving and then asked to submit a 500-1,000-word essay for a chance to win. The scholarship is sponsored by Digital Responsibility.
- Eligibility: Students must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and a high school freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, or student currently attending or planning to attend college or graduate school. Homeschooled students are also eligible.
- Application Process: Students must submit an application and 140-character message to be considered a finalist.
- Deadline: The deadline to apply is September 30.
In the Driver’s Seat
To address the topic of being a safe driver, the In the Driver’s Seat safe driving scholarship will reward student applicants a total of $3,000 in scholarships through an essay contest. Students will highlight the importance of being a safe and educated driver by addressing a series of questions in 750 words. Two winners will be chosen in three contest rounds in the categories of Staff Favorite and Most Voted For, allowing six students the opportunity to receive $500 each in scholarships. The scholarship is sponsored by the National Driving and Traffic School.
- Eligibility: Students must be currently enrolled in high school, college, or university.
- Application Process: Students must submit their essay by the deadline of one of the three submission dates.
- Deadlines: For round one, the deadline is March 31. For round two, the deadline is August 1. For round three, the deadline is November 30.
Safe Driver Scholarship
To promote safe driving for students, the Safe Driver Scholarship offers the chance to win $1,000 to a student who has participated in a safe driver program and created social awareness in the form of a video, artwork, essay, or other form that would engage or inspire students to focus on safe driving. It is sponsored by Car Insurance Comparison.
- Eligibility: Students must have a valid driver’s license and currently attend or plan to attend college or other form of higher education.
- Application Process: Students will need to participate in a safe driver program, apply, and submit their created form of social awareness online.
- Deadline: The deadline to apply is July 15.
Drunk Driving Prevention Scholarship
To get the message out on drunk driving prevention, the Drunk Driving Prevention Scholarship will award a $3,000 scholarship to the winning applicant of a 30-60-minute video PSA on the dangers of drunk driving and how it can be prevented. The scholarship is sponsored by Intoxalock.
- Eligibility: Students must be enrolled in a college or university.
- Application Process: To apply, students must submit their name, contact and school information, and a link to their video online.
- Deadline: The deadline to apply is midnight on December 31.
Stand Up to Distracted Driving Scholarship
To help fight the problem of distracted driving, the Stand Up to Distracted Driving Scholarship offers five scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each. Students must submit a 1,000-word essay that responds to the prompt: How has distracted driving affected your life? What ideas do you have to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and prevent this behavior among young drivers? The scholarship is sponsored by Kanoski Bresney.
- Eligibility: Students must be a U.S. citizen and have a current GPA of at least 3.0.
- Application Process: Students will need to submit their essay, a current transcript, contact information and a professional photograph online.
- Deadline: The deadline to apply is June 15.
Home 2026 Driver Safety Scholarship Fund
Texting and driving poses a serious safety hazard for all drivers across the United States. To spread the message about the dangers of texting and driving, Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., is sponsoring the 12th Annual Driver Safety Scholarship program. Our law firm will award three scholarships to 2026 graduating seniors in Colbert, Cullman, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall or Morgan Counties high schools and/or rising freshmen in Alabama colleges and universities who create an original written or video essay explaining the dangers of texting and driving and practical steps to ending this momentous problem.
- Essay Topic: “How can we educate our community about the dangers of distracted driving and what are some practical ways we can drastically reduce distracted driving related accidents?”
- Eligibility: The scholarship is open to high school seniors, and freshmen enrolled in Alabama colleges or universities who are residents of the following counties: Dekalb, Franklin, Lawrence, Colbert, Cullman, Jackson, Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, & Morgan.
- Judging Process: Essays will be judged by a panel from Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., and associated parties. Submissions will be judged on content, correctness of facts, grammar, style, and originality. Judges will look for clear, original essays that are logically organized and well-supported.
- Important Dates:
- Submissions Open August 8, 2025
- Submissions Close April 17, 2026
- Winners Announced May 1, 2026
Eligibility Criteria
The Safe Driving Scholarship is available to students enrolled in any high school, college, or university in the United States.
Many safe driving scholarships have specific eligibility requirements, including:
- Age: Some scholarships are open to students between 14 and 25 years old.
- GPA: Some scholarships require a minimum GPA, such as 3.0 or higher.
- Enrollment: Applicants may need to be enrolled full-time in an accredited secondary school, trade school, college, or university.
- Residency: Some scholarships are open to residents of specific states or counties.
- Driver's License: A valid driver's license may be required for some scholarships.
Application Process
The application process for safe driving scholarships typically involves:
- Online Application: Filling out an online form with personal and academic information.
- Essay: Writing an essay on a given topic related to safe driving, distracted driving, or drunk driving prevention. The essay should be well-researched, logically organized, and offer a fresh take on the dangers of unsafe driving practices.
- Creative Work: Creating a video, artwork, or other media to raise awareness about safe driving.
- Transcript: Providing an unofficial transcript or most recent grades/report card to prove enrollment.
- Headshot: Submitting a professional photograph.
- 140-Character Message: Some scholarships require a short message about texting and driving.
Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers requires all students interested in pursuing the Safe Drive Scholarship to submit their application packets by August 31, 2025. Once students are satisfied with their videos, Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers requests that students upload those videos to YouTube as unlisted content. We also recommend that students include any sources they use to round out their videos and that students restrict their use of footage to copyright-free content.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Research: Thoroughly research the topic and provide accurate information.
- Originality: Offer a fresh and creative perspective on the issue.
- Clarity: Write clearly and concisely, ensuring your essay is easy to understand.
- Passion: Demonstrate your passion for safe driving and your commitment to making a difference.
- Technical Solutions: Explore technological solutions to distracted driving.
- Personal Stories: Share personal experiences or interview someone affected by distracted driving.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
Besides safe driving scholarships, several other scholarships can help students fund their education:
- The "Be Bold" Scholarship: This no-essay scholarship is awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. The application takes less than 2 minutes.
- Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship: Open to all students who want extra help paying for their education.
- Christian Connector Scholarship: Offers various scholarship drawings for Christian/Faith Based colleges and universities.
- ScholarshipOwl: Provides direct access to the scholarships students need the most.
- Niche Scholarships: Niche can help with every step of the college search, including paying for it.
- StudentScholarships.org Scholarship: Anyone between the ages of 14-25 who will be attending school can apply for this scholarship.
Safe Driving Programs and Requirements
For students between 14½ and 15½ years old:30-hour Driver’s Education Course (online or in-person) is required Written Permit Test may be taken at 14 years and 11 months Permit can be issued at 15 years old Must complete 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel instruction with a certified driving instructorMust log 50 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian (including 10 hours at night)Drive Test Eligibility: One year from the date the permit is issuedTeens may begin their driver’s education at 14 years and 6 months. They are required to complete a 30-hour course, either online or in-person. The written permit test can be taken at 14 years and 11 months, and the permit can be issued at age 15. After that, students must hold the permit for a full year, complete 6 hours of professional instruction, and log 50 hours of supervised driving practice (10 at night) before becoming eligible to take the driving test.
For students between 15½ and 16 years old:4-hour Driver Awareness Course is required (instead of the 30-hour course)Must pass the written permit test and obtain a permit from the DMVMust log 50 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian (10 at night)Drive Test Eligibility: One year from the permit issue dateNote: Professional behind-the-wheel training is not required at this age but is highly recommendedTeens at this age are required to complete a 4-hour driver awareness class and pass the written permit test to obtain a permit. They must then log 50 hours of supervised practice driving (10 at night) over the course of one year before taking the driving test. Professional lessons are not required, but strongly recommended.
For students between 16 and 18 years old:No driver’s education or behind-the-wheel training is required Must pass the written permit test and obtain a permit from the DMVMust log 50 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian (10 at night)Drive Test Eligibility: Either one year from permit issue date or on or after their 18th birthday-whichever comes firstNote: While not required, both driver’s ed and professional driving lessons are recommended for safety. Teens between 16 and 18 are not required to take any formal driver’s education to get their permit. They must pass the written permit test and obtain a permit, then log 50 hours of supervised practice (10 at night).
tags: #safe #driving #scholarship #requirements
