Traffic Safety Jingle Contest Includes Fredericksburg Competitors

VIRGINIA — Several students from the Fredericksburg area have made it to the final round of a statewide jingle competition.

The contest, from the state police and the department of motor vehicles, encouraged children across the state to come up with catchy tunes encouraging drivers to buckle up and use caution on the roads.

Mary King is the program manager for Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety , which helps run the contest.

"The jingle competition is a fun and creative way for teens to remind each other to buckle up and drive safely during this high-risk period,” King said in a news release. “We know youth and teens love music and these safe driving jingles are a great way to reach youth on social media during the holidays.”

The winners of the competition will be decided through a public vote. The competitors are divided into two divisions: a middle school division and a high school division.

The high school division first place winner will receive a $500 cash prize, the second place winner will receive $200, and the third place winner will receive $100.

In the middle school division, the winner will receive $200, while second and third place will receive $100 and $50.

The high school division includes two representatives from the Fredericksburg area: the REACH Homeschool group of Fredericksburg and Asaph King, a homeschool student from Stafford County.

Esais King, a homeschool student from Stafford County, is a finalist in the middle school division.

Voting for both divisions is open now and will continue through Thursday. The winners will be announced on Friday, the competition organizers said.

The cash prizes are made possible by State Farm. More information about the competition, including guidelines and the selection process, is available online.