A Decade of Impact: 10th Annual Streets, Art, SAFE Awards in Southern California
On March 21, 2026, students, educators, industry professionals, and community leaders came together at LA Center Studios to celebrate the 10th annual Streets, Art, SAFE Awards Ceremony in Southern California.
This milestone year marked a decade of empowering young creatives to use art and storytelling to raise awareness around traffic safety and inspire meaningful change in their communities.
This season, 1,228 students from 68 schools submitted an incredible 417 films and posters, each one tackling critical issues like distracted driving, impaired driving, pedestrian safety, and sustainable transportation. Their work reflects not only creativity, but a deep understanding of the real-world impact of traffic violence.
A Night of Creativity, Impact, and Recognition
One student shared: “Creating this PSA made me realize how easily one decision can change everything. I wanted people to feel that and think twice.”
The awards ceremony highlighted the power of student voices, celebrating standout work across both film and poster categories. Throughout the night, students saw their work on the big screen, heard their names called, and were recognized for their creativity, storytelling, and commitment to safety.
More than $10,000 in prizes were awarded to support students and their schools, further investing in the next generation of creators and changemakers.
Powerful Stories on Screen
This year’s film winners brought powerful storytelling, emotional depth, and technical skill to the screen.
Los Alamitos High School’s “Daises” took home Best PSA Gold and Best Distracted Driving PSA with a compelling and memorable message on distracted driving.
Other standout films included:
Best PSA Silver: “Wake up call”
Best PSA Bronze: “Break the Cycle, Drive a Bicycle”
Check out the full playlist of winning films to see more powerful stories created by students across Southern California.
From cinematography and editing to messaging and research, students demonstrated an impressive range of skills while tackling serious and often life-saving topics.
Bold Messages in Design
Poster winners delivered bold, visually compelling messages designed to capture attention in just seconds.
Here’s a look at the winners who turned street safety into art and advocacy:
Gold
“You Wouldn't Drive Blind”
University High School Charter
Silver
"Skip the Traffic Ride the Rails"
University High School Charter
Bronze
"Go for a ride"
Torrey Pines High School
Take a look at more award-winning posters and discover how students used design to promote safer streets.
These designs combined strong visuals with clear calls to action, proving how effective art can be in shaping behavior and awareness.
Special Challenges and Awards
In addition to the main competition, this year introduced two exciting pilot programs, the SAFE Around Trains Challenge and the Week Without Driving Challenge. These challenges gave students the opportunity to explore real-world safety and sustainability issues in new and creative ways, expanding the impact of their work beyond the traditional categories.
The response was incredible. Students embraced the challenges with enthusiasm, producing thoughtful, engaging projects that highlighted the importance of rail safety and reimagining transportation habits in their communities.
Winning projects included:
Centennial High School for Stay Off The Tracks (SAFE Around Trains Gold)
Orange County School of the Arts for Don’t Text and Drive. Text and Ride. (Week Without Driving Gold)
Check out other winning PSA here:
Because of their success and the meaningful conversations they sparked, challenges will be returning next year, creating even more opportunities for students to engage, reflect, and lead change through their creativity.
A Community Effort
This event truly would not have been possible without the incredible support of our partners, presenters, and community leaders across transportation, safety advocacy, and the creative industries. Their energy, insight, and commitment to safer streets helped make the night not just a celebration, but a powerful reminder of what we can achieve together.
One of the most exciting highlights of the evening was the production and livestream of the ceremony, led by Streets, Art, SAFE alum Dominic Grezca, last year’s Best PSA Gold winner. Seeing Dominic return, not as a participant but as a leader, was a full-circle moment that perfectly captures the heart of this program.
Dominic led an outstanding team of young creatives, including Matt Kumar, Christopher Casey, Caden Caday, and Khloe Uriquico, who brought the entire event to life. Their work behind the scenes elevated the experience for everyone in the room and those watching from afar. We are so grateful for their creativity, professionalism, and dedication. It is inspiring to see alumni continuing to grow, lead, and give back in such meaningful ways.
Watch the full awards ceremony livestream here:
We are especially grateful to our Presenting Sponsor, The Auto Club of Southern California, for their leadership and continued commitment to youth education and traffic safety. We also extend our deepest thanks to Honda, Waymo, Metrolink, Tranzito-Vector, and Street Racing Kills for their generous support and shared dedication to this work.
A special thank you to our supporters—The CA Office of Traffic Safety, EditMentor, LA Center Studios, and GSTV—whose contributions help bring this event to life and amplify student voices.
View photos from the ceremony here:
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate 10 years of Streets, Art, SAFE in Southern California, we are incredibly proud of every student who participated and used their voice to make a difference.
Thank you to all the students, teachers, mentors, judges, and partners who made this season so impactful. Because of you, this community continues to grow, and the message that streets are for everyone continues to reach further each year.
The celebration is not over yet. We are excited to continue honoring student work at our upcoming awards ceremonies in Northern California on April 18 and in Texas on May 1.
Looking ahead, the next competition will open in August, with new challenges launching earlier in the year. We encourage students to stay engaged, keep creating, and continue using their creativity to inspire safer streets.
