Maine West video wins contest

Five Maine West High School students won first place Friday in a Cook County sheriff’s competition, for producing the best video that promotes safe driving among teenagers.

Anders Gustafson, Adrian Paladin, Jack Schalke, Luis Gonzalez and Sarah Brooks won for, “Xtreme Distracted Driving,” which features teenagers doing unimaginable and impossible things while driving — folding laundry, playing a ukulele and preparing a meal. It points out how doing anything that may distract teens while driving, even using your cell phone, can have the same outcome. The Des Plaines high school wins $500 to support future safe driving initiatives. Second place in the “Heads Up Video Challenge” went to Phoenix Military Academy in Chicago; and third place to Eisenhower High School in Blue Island.

Nearly 2,000 people voted online. See the winners at youtube.com/user/headsupinitiative.