FRANKFORT, Ky – April 21, 2025 – Gov. Andy Beshear, state transportation officials and partners from AAA Blue Grass, AAA East Central and Cambridge Mobile Telematics came together at the Capitol today to honor the top four safest teens in the Kentucky Safe Teen Driving Challenge and their commitment to staying safe on Kentucky roadways.

The four teens, Emily Emerson (1st place, $2,000), Julia Kettering (2nd Place, $1,500), Tasneem Mondal (3rd place, $1,000), and Alejandro Ramirez-Villanueva (4th place, $500) won a combined cash prize totaling $5,000. The prize money was sponsored by AAA Blue Grass and AAA East Central.

“It’s an honor to recognize each of the participants and their commitment to keeping Kentucky roadways safer,” said Gov. Beshear. “Whether they signed up for the challenge to win or to learn, they still made a difference – and we’re proud of every single one of them.”

The challenge was announced in early January when teens ages 16 to 19 were invited to register online. The contest ran from January 25 through March 31, 2025. Once the challenge began, participants were monitored through an app on their smartphones to identify risky driving behaviors such as speeding, hard braking, harsh acceleration, sharp cornering and phone use.

“Staying safe on our highways is a responsibility everyone on the road shares at every point in our lives,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray. “It’s inspiring to see so many young drivers taking initiative to be safe on the road.”

More than 800 teens from across Kentucky stepped up to take the challenge. Participants represented communities large and small – from rural counties to urban high schools – reflecting a shared commitment to improving roadway safety.

“The Kentucky Safe Teen Driving Challenge is a key step in building safer roads, and it’s inspiring to see so many teens involved,” said Bill Bell, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. “Engaging teens early helps them develop lifelong safe driving habits.”

The Kentucky Safe Teen Driving Challenge is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to reduce crashes and promote safe driving behaviors among young drivers for a lifetime. By encouraging teens to adopt safe habits behind the wheel, the program aims to save lives and make Kentucky’s roads safer for everyone.