New campaign aims to curb texting-related crashes

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

New campaign aims to curb texting-related crashes

A national survey released recently by Consumer Reports confirms that distracted driving is a growing epidemic. Nearly two-thirds of respondents had seen drivers in other vehicles texting on a cell phone or other mobile device within the past 30 days. More than half of respondents had seen a dangerous situation that was related to a distracted driver within the same time period.

What is it going to take to remind Illinois drivers that texting while driving is illegal and convince them that it’s dangerous?

According to the survey, 66 percent of respondents who reduced or stopped distracted driving behaviors did so because they read or heard about the dangers. Twenty percent said they were influenced by media campaigns.

Our “Drive Now. Text Later.” campaign was launched in January and is aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of texting while driving and ultimately, reducing the number of cell phone-related crashes on Illinois roads.

The campaign features a series of three professionals: a school bus driver, an airline pilot and a surgeon and reminds drivers: “He should be focused … and so should you.” These images demonstrate the need to focus on the job at hand and that texting while performing other tasks can be dangerous and deadly — not just to yourself, but also to those around you.

This campaign was born out of a partnership between organizations that share a collective commitment to continuously and effectively improve traffic safety in Illinois. It’s our responsibility to make sure that Illinois residents know what’s at stake for every driver, passenger and pedestrian.

Visit www.illinoistollway.com to learn more about our campaign and how to avoid distracted driving. And, Drive Now. Text Later. You can’t do both.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White

Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig

Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur

Interim Illinois State Police Director Patrick E. Keen

AAA Chicago Regional President Brad Roeber

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Oswego