Social Media

This award is presented to the best use of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. 

This is awarded one per each region and among those, an international winner is selected.

Each agency may submit only ONE entry.

Criteria for selection: 

  • Frequency of updates
  • Content
  • Innovation
  • Engagement
  • Effectiveness


2026 Winners

International and Region 2

Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security 

REAL ID Social Media Campaign2026 - Social Media - Region 2 - Tennessee

With just three months remaining before the May 7 implementation date, more than 1.8 million Tennesseans had yet to decide whether to obtain a REAL ID. Recognizing that many residents were still unaware of the deadline—and that misinformation about REAL ID was widespread—the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) launched a strategic social media campaign to raise awareness of REAL ID, educate Tennesseans on how to successfully obtain a REAL ID, and combat misinformation.

Campaign Strategy

TDOSHS ramped up its REAL ID messaging, posting two or more times per week on its primary social media platforms—X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. The content included a mix of graphics and videos designed to inform and engage.

To meet the increased demand generated by the campaign, TDOSHS also hosted a “Super Saturday” REAL ID event and started opening select centers on Saturdays for REAL ID issuance only. Both initiatives were heavily promoted through social media and saw high levels of participation.

One of the most engaging elements of the campaign was a five-part video series filmed at the Nashville International Airport, featuring Assistant Commissioner of Driver Services Russell Shoup answering the most frequently asked questions about REAL ID. In addition, TDOSHS produced four public service announcements promoting REAL ID and the new Super Saturday appointments, also featuring Assistant Commissioner Shoup.

Campaign Results

The campaign generated more than 1.7 million views across TDOSHS social media platforms. More than 350,000 REAL ID credentials were issued during the campaign period, representing nearly 12% of all REAL ID credentials issued in Tennessee.


Region 1

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration 

Share the Road with Trucks2026 - Social Media - Region 1 - Maryland

The Maryland MVA launched its “Share the Road with Trucks” social media campaign ahead of the busy summer travel season, a time when more Marylanders take to highways and encounter larger commercial vehicles. With truck drivers covering thousands of miles each year, roadway safety remains a critical priority. Collisions involving large trucks can be severe due to the weight and size of these vehicles. A major contributing factor is the presence of large blind spots, also known as No-Zones, which can make it difficult for commercial drivers to see smaller vehicles traveling alongside them. This campaign was designed to heighten awareness among Maryland drivers of these high-risk areas and encourage safer roadway behaviors that protect all road users.

The strategy centered on social media education using Facebook, Instagram, and X, each featuring four targeted posts focused on identifying truck blind spots, avoiding unsafe passing, and preventing tailgating. The content employed clear, concise messaging paired with visually compelling graphics, including illustrations that map blind-spot zones and reinforce key safety takeaways. One creative highlight included messaging encouraging drivers to look for a truck operator’s face in the side mirror—if they cannot see the driver, the driver cannot see them.

To expand the educational reach beyond basic awareness, the campaign also highlighted hard-working Maryland truck drivers. This helped humanize the message and foster a spirit of shared responsibility on the road.

The campaign was fully organic and received strong support from partners, including local law enforcement and the Maryland Motor Truck Association, both of whom voluntarily shared the posts to help broaden audience reach. In total, the campaign garnered over 450,000 impressions across platforms and generated more than 3,800 engagements, demonstrating strong resonance with the public, despite no paid promotion. Engagement included likes, shares, comments, and click-throughs, indicating that users interacted with and amplified the safety messages.

Through continued updates, high-quality educational content, and a design approach tailored for clarity and quick comprehension, the campaign successfully raised awareness of truck blind spots and safer roadway behavior at a time of year when roadway travel peaks.


Region 3

Ohio State Highway Patrol

Best Looking Cruiser Contest2026 - Social Media - Region 3 - Ohio

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s social media campaign for the Best-Looking Cruiser Contest exemplifies strategic, creative, and community-driven digital engagement. Designed and executed entirely by the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Public Affairs Unit, the campaign leveraged multiple platforms to rally statewide pride, amplify agency visibility, and showcase the iconic design of the Patrol’s cruiser.

The campaign maintained a consistent and dynamic posting schedule across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram, with daily updates throughout the contest period. Engaging videos, standings updates, and interactive content kept audiences informed and involved throughout the voting window. By maintaining a strong presence across multiple platforms, the campaign encouraged supporters to participate while extending the reach of the contest beyond Ohio State Highway Patrol’s existing audience.

At the heart of the campaign was a theme of patriotism that deeply resonates with the Patrol and the communities it serves. A striking image of the cruiser positioned in front of a barn painted with the American flag provided a powerful visual centerpiece. The rural Ohio backdrop was generously offered by local citizen Larry Kornmiller, whose barn carries its own story of patriotism and service. Built and preserved as a tribute to generations of Kornmiller family members who served in the U.S. military, the barn provided an authentic connection to the campaign’s patriotic message. The contest also overlapped with the July 4th holiday, allowing the campaign to further capitalize on themes of patriotism, community, and state pride.

The campaign delivered measurable results. The Ohio State Highway Patrol placed third among the 49 states participating in the Best-Looking Cruiser Contest, earning more than 25,000 votes from supporters across Ohio and beyond. Campaign posts generated hundreds of thousands of impressions, demonstrating significant visibility and engagement across multiple social media platforms.

This campaign demonstrates how thoughtful, internally led social media can transform a simple contest into an opportunity for meaningful community connection. Through strategic content, compelling visuals, consistent engagement, and an authentic connection to Ohio’s traditions of patriotism and service, the Ohio State Highway Patrol brought together law enforcement agencies and Ohio communities while showcasing the pride that defines the Patrol and the state it serves.


Region 4

Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division  

REAL ID Social Media Posts2026 - Social Media - Region 4 - Arizona

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (ADOT MVD) leveraged multiple social media platforms to ensure as many Arizonans as possible were aware of the federal REAL ID deadline and new requirements. With more than 750,000 followers across five major social media platforms, ADOT MVD used frequent, targeted messaging to help customers who needed to update their credentials understand the documents and requirements they needed before visiting an MVD office.

The campaign used a variety of engaging content formats to communicate important information in an accessible and easy-to-understand way. Videos addressed frequently asked questions and provided customers with practical guidance, while visual posts linked to informative blogs highlighting unique security features of Arizona driver licenses and identification cards. This approach allowed ADOT MVD to educate customers about the new federal requirements while also providing interesting and relevant information about the credentials themselves.

The campaign also benefited from strong statewide collaboration. In addition to ADOT MVD’s own social media outreach, the Governor of Arizona and several other state agencies shared REAL ID messaging through their social media channels, helping expand the campaign’s reach and reinforce awareness of the May 7, 2025, federal deadline. Through coordinated, informative, and engaging digital communication, ADOT MVD helped Arizonans better understand the REAL ID requirements and prepare for the transition.