Participate in the Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS) All-Stars and win cash for your team throughout the school year by completing traffic safety activities! Hard-working teams receive credit for completed and reported risk units to earn their place as an All-Star team.
Check out our Leader Board >>HERE<<
High school teams that complete surveys and all six risk units will earn $1,250. Junior high teams that complete surveys, all four risk units, and the Zero Hero Seat Belt challenge will earn $700. Your team can decide which risk units to do and when – complete some or all.
All-Stars is organized into risk units, each with activities your team completes to educate your peers about different passenger and driving risks you face. To earn cash, your team must complete the activities listed on the risk unit pages. High school teams must complete a required activity and focused activities specific to the risk unit. Junior high teams must complete suggested activities specific to the risk unit. Other activities, considered “All-Risk” can be focused on particular risk units, with some that can be completed multiple times and others only once. Don’t stress – TDS staff monitor activities and will make sure you are getting credit applied so you complete as many units as possible!
This current All-Stars period will run from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
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*Surveys are not required for junior high schools, and Nebraska high schools complete surveys at the end of the year.
Annual Surveys
REQUIRED FOR HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS TO QUALIFY FOR ALL-STARS CASH.
Surveys can be conducted electronically! Survey instructions are included in your welcome email and resource kit.
Surveys have a mandatory minimum number of surveys that must be completed based on school size.
NEW! If your team is actively collecting surveys, you will receive an email update as staff checks the system every few days. The email will contain the number of surveys your school has collected and the number you need to complete the unit.
High school teams must complete a minimum number of surveys based on school enrollment: collect surveys from 20% of your school population OR up to 200 total surveys.
Surveys are OPTIONAL for junior highs but offer a $200 reward for completion. To qualify for a reward, a minimum number of surveys must be completed based on school enrollment: collect surveys from 20% of your school population OR up to 150 total surveys.
Check with your regional rep if you have any questions about the survey or your school population.
Risk Units
Check out our easy-to-follow risk units and learn how to become an ALL-STAR! Complete all units and earn your team a total of $1,250 for high school teams and $700 for junior high teams.
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All-Risk Focused Activities
| Multiple-Use Guided Activities | Activities that can be completed multiple times, and should be focused on the risk they are submitted for:
High School-Specific
*Interactive activities – the audience is actively engaged, learning, and participating – a two-way flow of information. Contact your regional rep if you have questions. |
| One-time Activities | These activities will only be counted once per All-Star period, but can fulfill any focused risk activity requirement:
*TDS borrowed resources are only available in select areas on a first-come, first-served basis for a limited borrow time. |
| Safety Fair | If your team conducts a Safety Fair, each interactive/learning station will be counted towards the appropriate risk-focused outreach. Report each station/activity within the activity form. |
FAQs
Is our team required to complete Annual Surveys?
High school teams must complete Annual Surveys to earn All-Star cash rewards; they are optional for junior high teams and carry a $200 reward for completion. However, teams are not required to complete Annual Surveys to receive a TDS resource kit or complete risk units.
Can our team receive partial reward credit for incomplete risk units?
No partial cash awards will be made.
Can our team “bank” earned rewards and receive a check at the end of the year?*
Due to record-keeping, we are unable to do this and must send checks out on a quarterly schedule. The exception is Nebraska teams, due to contract requirements.
When will we be paid?
Once we have received your school’s completed W-9, schools will receive checks according to the following schedule:
- October – teams are paid for July through September activities
- January – teams are paid for October through December activities
- April – teams are paid for January through March activities
- July – teams are paid for April through June activities
How long do checks take to arrive?
The first check may take up to 30 days, once we receive W-9. Thereafter, about 20 days. You can download and complete this W-9 if you haven’t done so in a few years.
Can the check be made to another entity?
Texas A&M Transportation Institute is required to make the check out to the name on the submitted W-9.
Can the check be made out to the teacher/sponsor?
Texas A&M Transportation Institute is required to make the check out to a government or non-profit entity. We cannot pay individuals or for-profit entities.
RULES
- Teens in the Driver Seat® 2025 All-Stars is open to all TDS teams. A team is a high school-aged or junior high-aged team that has enrolled in TDS and received a resource kit for the 2024-2025 school year.
- To be recognized in an All-Star category, program schools must complete:
All-Star Level High School Junior High 6-Star Annual Surveys + all 6 risk units 5-Star Annual Surveys + 5 risk units 4-Star Annual Surveys + 4 risk units All 4 risk units 3-Star Annual Surveys + 3 risk units 3 risk units 2-Star Annual Surveys + 2 risk units 2 risk units 1-Star Annual Surveys + 1 risk unit 1 risk unit Outstanding School Annual Surveys - Participation in the Teens in the Driver Seat® Annual Survey is required for high teams to be considered an All-Star school and receive cash and is optional for junior high teams.
- School enrollment is verified on the following websites to identify the minimum number of surveys required for each school. https://www.greatschools.org/ & https://tea.texas.gov
- Credit for activities completed online or within the school or community will be awarded upon the submission of an Event/Activity Form. Each team is responsible for submitting its activity forms.
- For the Teens in the Driver Seat® 2025 All-Stars, teams will have the opportunity to earn credit for the academic year of 2024-2025 beginning July 1, 2024. No previous activities will be counted towards the 2025 All-Stars.
- The final deadline to submit your completed W-9, as well as activities to qualify as a Teens in the Driver Seat® All-Star, is June 30, 2025.
- All entries, activities, and submitted photographs may be used to advance and support the Teens in the Driver Seat Program or the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
- The Texas A&M Transportation Institute is not responsible for lost, damaged, misdirected, or delayed activity forms or entries towards credit.
- The Texas A&M Transportation Institute reserves the right to withdraw, terminate, suspend, cancel or modify all or part of the contest at any time without notice.
- For Texas Junior High and High Schools, it is the responsibility of the team to monitor credit (updated monthly on the leader board) or sign-in sheets and bring any discrepancies to the attention of the Teens in the Driver Seat® staff before the deadline.
- Teens in the Driver Seat® reserves the right to change any of these rules.
- All decisions are final.
TEXAS SCHOOLS
- For all Texas teams, to earn full credit for TDS All-Star Activities each Event/Activity Form must include a student sign-in sheet(s) (download) confirming event attendance, start, and end time, and the planning hours leading up to the event. Sign-in sheet(s) must be submitted prior to the deadline. Sign-in sheets may be submitted as an attachment within the Event/Activity form, mailed, faxed, or emailed to TTI – Teens in the Driver Seat, 1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 605, San Antonio, TX 78213, Fax: 210-979-9694, Email: tdswebmaster@ttimail.tamu.edu
See past All-Stars:
See past TDS Cup winners (now All-Stars):