With Crayons and Computers at the Ready, GEICO's Safety Belt Poster Contest Begins for Young Artists

Break out those markers and dust off your paint brushes, it's time to enter the GEICO Safety Belt Poster Contest! As students jump back into the swing of the school season, GEICO hopes they'll keep an important message in mind while on the bus and in cars: buckle up!

The annual GEICO competition (http://www.geico.com/about/in-the-community/poster-contest/) kicks off Sept. 1 for students age 6-18, urging them to use their imagination to spread the message of seatbelt safety. GEICO winners earn cash prizes at both the regional and national levels.

GEICO reprints and circulates the winning posters to schools, businesses, and safety groups across the country. The art contest continues through January 16, 2009.

GEICO is encouraging teens to enter because new teen drivers have the highest crash rates of any age group--and often drive unbelted.

Computer-savvy students are welcome to enter the computer-generated category to design a safety belt message unique from traditional art mediums.

The Safety Belt Poster Contest is open to public, private and home-schooled students, ages 6 through 18, as of Sept. 1, 2008. The contest is divided into four age groups: 6 to 8, 9 to 11, 12 to 15, and 16 to 18, and conducted in eight regions around the country. Entries are initially judged within each age group from the same region. First-place winning posters in each age group advance to the national judging in Washington, D.C. in February, 2009.

One grand-prize winner in each age group will be selected, along with a national winner in the computer-generated poster category, for a total of five national winners. National winners could win up to $650 for themselves and $500 for their school's art program. Regional winners also earn cash awards.

For more information, please visit http://www.geico.com/about/in-the-community/poster-contest/.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States based on the latest 12 months written premium. It provides auto insurance coverage for nearly 8.5 million policyholders and insures more than 14.4 million vehicles.