The Maine Department of Transportation is once again inviting fourth graders across the state to participate in the Backseat Driver Poster Contest. Students are asked to design a poster with an accompanying slogan that encourages safe driving in work zones.

During the past 10 years, more than 7,000 work zone related crashes in the state of Maine have caused more than 3,400 injuries. The Backseat Driver contest is designed to teach students the do’s and don’ts of driving safely in work zones, and to encourage them to be “backseat drivers” by reminding their parents to drive safely too.

Contest winners will share $2,400 in prize money for classroom activities, and the top 12 entries will be showcased in a new, full-color calendar to be distributed around the state.

It’s easy to enter – just download the contest rules and fill out the registration form on the Backseat Driver Web site, www.mainebackseatdriver.com. All entries must be postmarked by Nov. 30.