2026 Winners
International and Region 2
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
ARTS (Automated Road Testing System) Commercial
The Virginia DMV, in partnership with QTPIE, developed the Automated Road Testing System (ARTS), the world’s first fully automated road test system. The innovation eliminates the need for a human examiner in the vehicle, replacing subjective scoring with an objective, AI-driven assessment of driving competency. The accompanying commercial was created to introduce ARTS in a compelling and memorable way while highlighting the technology’s potential to modernize the driver testing experience.
The commercial taps into the universal anxiety and stress associated with the licensing process. By asking viewers to recall their own driving test experience, the video establishes an immediate emotional connection before introducing ARTS as a definitive “better way” to demonstrate safe driving competency. The creative approach uses a full orchestral score, tight cinematic shots, deliberate pauses, and a distinctive, weathered vocal performance to create an emotional and high-impact viewing experience.
Originally developed for the TIME Magazine “2025 Inventions of the Year” submission packet, the commercial successfully secured a spot in the program and now serves as a powerful, concise introduction to ARTS for state agencies and safety organizations around the world. The video demonstrates how a short, emotionally engaging piece can effectively communicate a complex technological innovation while positioning Virginia as a leader in the future of driver testing.
Fittingly for the in-house video category, the production also demonstrates exceptional resourcefulness and creativity. The entire project was executed by a single designer from the communications team, who maximized existing footage from ARTS device-testing trials and available B-roll to create the finished piece. A modern AI text-to-speech technology was used for the voiceover, and the entire production was edited and mastered in Adobe Premiere. Through thoughtful storytelling, innovative technology, and efficient use of existing resources, the Virginia DMV created a polished, professional commercial that effectively introduces an entirely new approach to driver testing.
Region 1
New York Department of Motor Vehicles
Top Ten Tips - Roundabouts
The New York State DMV created a series of videos highlighting traffic safety and providing customers with its top 10 safety tips. As the fifth installment in the series, the DMV partnered with local law enforcement, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department, to educate drivers on how to safely navigate a roundabout. The full-length video was shared on the DMV’s YouTube channel, while a shorter version was adapted for distribution across the department’s social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Lt. Jeffrey Margan, a 24-year veteran of law enforcement, explained the do’s and don’ts of safely entering and exiting a roundabout. Rather than filming the segment indoors, the DMV took the presentation into the community, positioning Lt. Margan beside an actual roundabout in Round Lake, New York. This approach added visual interest while allowing viewers to see and better understand the proper techniques for navigating a roundabout in a real-world setting.
By combining expert guidance from local law enforcement with an authentic, real-world setting and content tailored for multiple digital platforms, the DMV created an engaging and accessible traffic safety resource. The video provided practical information that drivers can immediately apply while extending the reach of the DMV’s broader traffic safety campaign through both long-form and social media content.
Region 3
Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
MVD360 Promotional Video
The Iowa Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) created the MVD360 promotional video to introduce one of the most significant modernization efforts in our agency’s history. MVD360 is not just a technology upgrade; it is a full business transformation. Every process, form, and interaction that supports the delivery of driver and vehicle services across Iowa is being reimagined to improve customer service and empower our employees.
This project, supported by a historic financial investment from the Iowa Legislature, required clear communication from the outset. The video was designed to build understanding, reduce confusion, generate excitement, and establish a shared vision among all 1,200 MVD and county staff who will be significantly impacted by the MVD360 project, as well as external partners. With initial project reactions ranging from fear to apprehension, we knew we needed to take hold of the messaging and gain trust and buy-in to have a successful modernization initiative.
The video also served to take the unknown out of project timelines and helped staff understand who from their teams are representing their subject area on the project, so they know who to contact with questions, ideas, and concerns. We carefully selected the video participants as trusted subject matter experts and county treasurers to put a human face on the project. By involving county partners and front-line staff, we demonstrated to all 1,200 staff that this project isn’t a top-down effort: it’s driven by the business units to truly improve their day-to-day jobs and the impact we have on Iowans.
The full version of the video, which runs 6 minutes and 4 seconds, is geared toward internal audiences. Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with employees describing the video as “energizing,” “motivating,” and “the first time it [the project] made sense.”
A truncated version of 3 minutes and 55 seconds was created for external audiences. This version is featured in all team member email signatures and on the MVD360 external project website at https://iowadot.gov/mvd360. It provides a concise, clear explanation of what is happening, when, and why, helping external audiences quickly understand the scope and goals of the transformation while building trust and awareness.
The video premiered at six regional engagement sessions during summer 2025 (over 600 in-person attendees), an all-staff webinar (203 live participants), and an all-agency announcement (over 2,200 email opens). The website hosting the video has been accessed 796 times within three months. Effectiveness was measured through video engagement and feedback from regional sessions, informal comments, YouTube views (though the link is private), and website clicks.
Key content includes the why, explaining the need to modernize and improve service for customers; the what, outlining which processes and components of our business are impacted; the who, highlighting MVD employees and county partners who will be serving on the project team; and the when, presenting a high-level timeline of project milestones.
Region 4
Washington State Patrol
Washington State Patrol: School Bus Safety
The Washington State Patrol (WSP) produced “School Bus Safety” as part of its annual back-to-school safety campaign to remind drivers of their legal and moral responsibilities when approaching or passing school buses. The video was designed to educate the public about Washington’s traffic laws regarding stopped school buses while emphasizing the importance of protecting the state’s most vulnerable passengers: children. The goal was to increase public awareness and compliance with school bus safety laws, particularly the requirement to stop for buses displaying red flashing lights and extended stop paddles. Each year, WSP observes dangerous driving behaviors around school buses, including illegal passing, and this production sought to help curb these violations by clearly communicating the rules, penalties, and potential consequences of ignoring them.
The primary audience was the general driving public, including commuters, parents, and motorists sharing the road with school buses during the back-to-school season. Produced and edited by WSP’s Government and Media Relations Section, the video features an on-camera appearance by a member of WSP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau, who provides clear and concise messaging about the laws designed to protect children as they board and exit school buses. The visual storytelling combines real-world school bus footage with engaging narration, allowing viewers to easily understand when and where they are legally required to stop.
The tone of the video strikes a balance between authoritative and community-focused, reinforcing WSP’s role not only as an enforcer of traffic laws but also as a partner in keeping Washington’s children safe. By presenting important legal requirements in a straightforward and accessible format, the video makes a potentially complex traffic safety issue easy for drivers to understand and apply.
Upon release, “School Bus Safety” was shared across WSP’s social media platforms and subsequently picked up by a local news outlet. This earned-media exposure extended the video’s reach beyond WSP’s direct audience and allowed it to serve as a timely reminder to drivers statewide during the busy back-to-school period. The video reinforced WSP’s broader traffic safety message that simple awareness and compliance can prevent tragedies and save lives, while providing motorists with the knowledge they need to help protect children on Washington’s roads.