AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Transportation is announcing its fifth annual Backseat Driver Program.

The program is designed to increase public awareness of the importance of driving safely through work zones, and includes a contest open to all fourth-graders in the state.

Through the program, students learn public safety through lessons about Maine roads, traffic signs and work zone safety. The contest is called the Backseat Driver program because it asks students to be “backseat drivers” and encourage their parents to drive safely.

The MaineDOT is asking fourth-graders to design a highway safety poster that will be displayed at locations throughout Maine. Entries must be postmarked by March 7, and seven regional winners will be selected and awarded $200 to use for any classroom or field trip activity.

The regional winners will be posted on the Backseat Driver Web site, www.mainebackseatdriver.com, where the public votes for a winner. Voting will take place from March 21 through midnight on March 25. The grand prize winner will win $1,000 toward a classroom or field trip activity for their class.

More contest and program information is available at www.mainebackseatdriver.com.

The winner will be announced during a press conference at the kick-off of Work Zone Safety Week, April 3 to 9.