AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Transportation is looking for fourth-graders to participate in a poster contest as part of its fifth annual Backseat Driver Program.

The Maine DOT is asking fourth-graders across the state to design a highway safety poster to raise public awareness. Contest participants also 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.

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 to choose a statewide winner.

Voting will take place from March 21 through midnight March 25. The grand prize contest winner will win $1,000 toward a classroom or field trip activity for their class.

The winner of the contest will be announced at an as-yet-unscheduled press conference to kick off Work Zone Safety Week, April 3-9.

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