Drive Clean Across TX Hybrid SUV Contest Ends Sunday

 Last Call for Entries to Win a Low-Emission SUV

(Austin, TX) – The federal government’s Cash for Clunkers program has come and gone, but drivers in Texas still have a chance to cash in on getting a new low-emission vehicle if they act fast.

The deadline is Sunday, September 20, for entering the Drive Clean Across Texas online sweepstakes to win a brand-new Ford Escape Hybrid SUV. The sweepstakes is part of the state’s annual campaign to encourage drivers to take simple steps to improve air quality. Texas drivers who are at least 18 years old have only a few more days to sign up to win a hybrid Escape. Participants may do so by visiting the campaign’s website at www.drivecleanacrosstexas.org. While there, drivers can also pledge to do their part to reduce air pollution.

 Driving a low-emission vehicle, like a hybrid, is one thing drivers can do to reduce air pollution, according to campaign officials with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. This year’s campaign is partnering with NAPA Auto Parts, which is providing the hybrid vehicle. The lucky winner will receive the keys to the new hybrid SUV at the Dallas Cowboys’ Valley Ranch headquarters in a ceremony later this fall. 

     In addition to encouraging the purchase of low-emission vehicles, Drive Clean Across Texas encourages motorists to commit to implementing cost-saving, no-cost, and low-cost changes in their driving and vehicle maintenance behaviors to reduce harmful vehicle emissions.

     “Doing things like getting a tune up and keeping your tires properly inflated improves gas mileage and reduces vehicle emissions,” says TxDOT’s Richard Goldsmith. “And they also give you some relief at the gas pump. They’re good for the air and good for your wallet.”

     To get more tips on how to drive green or to enter the hybrid SUV sweepstakes, Texas motorists can visit the campaign’s website at www.drivecleanacrosstexas.org.