The results are in: Pennridge High School is the winner of the 2019 TMA Bucks Teen Driver Safety Video PSA Challenge.

Area high schools were challenged to create videos advocating for safe driving. This year’s topics ranged from drunken driving to texting while driving to seatbelt safety.

“It was such a pleasure to see 12 schools submit videos this year, the most ever in the history of the contest,” TMA Bucks Executive Director Steve Noll said.

“Each and every year we continue to be impressed by the creativity of the students. TMA Bucks thanks Comcast and the Bucks County Courier Times and Intelligencer for continuing to partner with us on this important initiative.”

Panelists of Reality section of the Courier Times, Intelligencer and Burlington County Times voted on the videos, and chose Pennridge’s comedic skit about seatbelt safety as the winner.

The video features two students in a car, both deciding not to wear their seatbelts on their ride. Then, with a flash of the classic SpongeBob transition image (“A Few Moments Later…”), their car is seen going off a hill. In the next clip of the video, the students climb back into the car, and decide to wear their seatbelts this time.

Both the SpongeBob clip and the car clip are videos famously used in memes. The students were clever in using these clips they knew today’s teenagers would recognize, making the videos funny and relatable. Their video resonated with voters, no doubt from their use of memes, which are a standout way to get a teenager’s attention.

Although the video is comedic in nature, the message is serious: Buckle up. The video shows the consequences of not wearing a seatbelt. The teens get back into the car injured, but have learned their lesson and click in their seatbelts. The message is clear: “Seatbelts Save Lives,” as the beginning of the video urges.

Students Christian Hangey, Gunnar Orth, Ethan Saville and Bobby Brashear, all members of the student group SADD, met at a local park after school and filmed the scenes in one day, said Bobby, who directed the 30-second film.

“We think practicing safe driving habits is an issue for a lot of people, particularly new drivers like ourselves,” Bobby said. “We also believe humor is a great way to send a message, which is why we decided to make our video a funny skit.

“This contest is important to me because I believe practicing safe driving habits is crucial, especially for teens who are new to driving. Practicing safe driving habits ensures not only our own safety, but also the safety of others around us.”

The TMA Bucks challenge is unique in that it inspires area high school students to think about safe driving and the consequences of their actions artistically through film.

“Each and every year Comcast sees the TMA Bucks Teen Driver Safety Video PSA Challenge as an innovative and productive opportunity for students to come together in groups, foster creativity and then use technology to deliver important messages about teen driving that strive to save lives,” said Brian Jeter, Comcast’s director of government affairs. “Comcast continues to be proud supporters of TMA Bucks and this outstanding program.”

Pennridge High School will receive $500 and a screening of the video on Comcast Network. But even more valuable than the prize is the message at the core of their video: “Seatbelts Save Lives.”

Congratulations to all this year's entrants. Watch their videos below.