We have created a new Share Your Story campaign for Heather Lerch and her family. Click here to learn more and download the poster. Be a part of the solution by helping her family spread the message.
Welcome to TxtResponsibly.org. Our mission is to raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving and to prevent harmful injury or death caused by the act of texting recklessly.
News From Around The Web:
TxtResponsibly.org Launches New Awareness Campaign: Be a part of the solution. Share your story at TxtResponsibly.org
Since our launch in Spring of 2009, TxtResponsibly.org has worked to raise awareness about the growing epidemic of texting while driving. We participated in the Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, DC in September and heard the issue debated among top technology leaders, statisticians, state and federal legislators and safety organizations. The most compelling and effective messages against texting while driving can be found in the stories of families and individuals touched by tragedy.
In support of National Youth Traffic Safety Month organized by National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS), Pica Design, LLC (Founding Sponsor of TxtResponsibly.org) is donating marketing & design expertise to create a new awareness campaign highlighting personal stories. The campaign also coincides with the first National “No Phone Zone Day“, Friday, April 30th launched by Oprah Winfrey and Harpo Studios. This new campaign is an opportunity for those touched by a texting and driving incident or tragedy to share their story and raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving.
Amanda Umscheid’s 19-year-old sister was killed one year ago while texting. It was Amanda who was texting with her sister when the accident occurred; her guilt and sadness are constant reminders of that day. She is now sharing her story with high school and college students in her community to educate them about the dangers of texting while driving. Join Amanda and Be a part of the solution.
How to get involved:
• Share your story and help raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving.
• Your story may be selected for the ‘Be a part of the solution‘ awareness campaign. All campaign posters will be made available free for download and distribution at http://txtresponsibly.org/resources/.
• Selected stories will be given a dedicated page under the Share Your Story section at TxtResponsibly.org.
Be a part of the solution. Share your story today at TxtResponsibly.org.
Alarmed at news stories about texting-related car collisions, the staff at Pica Design, LLC—a full-service graphic design and marketing agency in Maine–decided to use our collective skills in design, marketing, advertising and communications campaigning to change behavior: to make people think twice before texting while driving; texting while walking across the street; texting and multitasking, period. The mission of TxtResponsibly.org is to raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving and to prevent harmful injury or death caused by the act of texting recklessly. Free resources developed for TxtResponsibly.org have been referenced and distributed across the United States and Canada. It is our goal to continue providing free awareness resources to the public. If you’re interested in co-sponsoring this campaign or other TxtResponsibly.org initiatives, please contact us at info@txtresponsibly.org.
U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood, Congressional Leaders and Jordin Sparks Join Allstate in Urging Americans to Stop Texting and Driving
WASHINGTON, April 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Today, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood joined singing sensation Jordin Sparks, Congressional leaders and Allstate senior executives to urge Americans to take a pledge not to text and drive.
“Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic, and we need to work together to stop thousands of unnecessary injuries and deaths every year,” said Secretary LaHood. “I applaud the efforts of Allstate to encourage Americans to take personal responsibility and help put an end to this dangerous behavior.”
Shreya R. Dixit Memorial Foundation
Shreya Rekha Dixit, of Eden Prairie, MN, turned 19 on September 16, 2007. She joined University of Wisconsin, Madison as a sophomore in the fall to pursue a degree in International Business. Shreya completed the freshman year at Bryant University in Rhode Island where she was named to the Dean’s List for academic excellence. Her life was cut short when she was fatally injured in an accident on November 1, riding a car to spend the weekend with her family in Minnesota.
Oprah’s No Texting Campaign
On today’s The Oprah Winfrey Show (January 15, 2010) The show covered the topic of distracted driving. “It is my prayer that this show, this day will be a seminal day in your life,” Oprah says. “Let it be the end, the end of you using a cell phone or sending a text message when you are behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. And until we as a nation decide we’re going to change that, those numbers are only going to go up.”
Millions of people text, talk or e-mail on their cell phones while driving—a recent survey finds that 71 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 49 admit they text or talk on the phone while they drive.
If you think you can call, text and drive at the same time, you cannot. That message you can’t wait to send could kill. Distracted driving is an epidemic that is sweeping through our country, claiming lives and destroying families.
Hands-Free Info
HandsFreeInfo.com seeks to reduce the confusion over local laws and legislation regarding the operation of motor vehicles while using cell phones and text messaging devices. The legal landscape changes frequently, so this web site’s team stays busy keeping on top of the latest developments nationwide.
The site also is dedicated to reducing the number of distracted-driver accidents on U.S. highways by promoting the use of hands-free cell phone devices.
Texting And Driving Don’t Mix
News Center, along with AAA, recently put three young people to the multi-tasking test. Each was asked to drive through an obstacle course while texting. It was a controlled environment with an expert adult driver in the car with them.
Each of the three hit some of the cones and one of the drivers actually ran over a cone and dragged it beneath the car.
“It teaches them that texting and driving don’t mix. They should be separate. And it is actually very difficult to do both well,” says Van Tassel.
Recently Published Report by PEW Internet
“Teens and Distracted Driving”
Overview
One in four (26%) of American teens of driving age say they have texted while driving, and half (48%) of all teens ages 12 to 17 say they’ve been a passenger while a driver has texted behind the wheel.
These findings form the centerpiece of a new report from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project that looks at teens, mobile phones and distracted driving. The report is based on a telephone survey of 800 teens ages 12-17 and a parent or guardian as well as 9 focus groups with middle and high school students.
The Concentration Game
The Century Council has produced an interactive initiative called The Concentration Game which mimics distractions a driver may face. We encourage you to play the initiative and embed it on your website.
Play Now
An Accident That Killed Two People
James A. Furfaro, 38, and Keith P. Odell, 50, were killed when 19-year-old Reggie Shaw caused another car to spin out of control. Phone records show that Shaw had been text-messaging from the time he left home to the time of the accident.
